array_files=new Array(); array_files[0]=new Array(0,1,"http://www.restorationministry.com/forum","2008-01-20","15K","Restoration Ministries forum","",""," Restoration Ministries forum Restoration Ministries forum A Bible based discussion Forum Index User list Rules Search Register Login You are not logged in. General Discussion Forum Topics Posts Last post Welcome 10 84 2008-01-11 17:45:28 by BG Thanksgiving and Praise 5 50 2007-12-29 06:36:06 by chief of sinners Chit-chat, greetings, trivia 18 97 2007-12-20 02:41:42 by dejan1888 General Topics 224 4749 Yesterday 19:54:54 by Zeal Apostolic Christianity Forum Topics Posts Last post Ideas and suggestions 1 17 Yesterday 17:25:33 by Nathan United in the work 3 8 Yesterday 14:06:24 by Pjnpswiss Salvation Forum Topics Posts Last post Righteousness by Faith 39 1302 Today 04:07:58 by DonJa Doctrinal Issues Forum Topics Posts Last post The Godhead 73 2317 2008-01-18 21:31:25 by Charles Margino Current Events Forum Topics Posts Last post Revival of the Papacy 7 40 2007-11-03 07:17:17 by Pjnpswiss The Charismatic Movement 1 14 2007-03-24 10:45:45 by Pjnpswiss SDA Church Issues 25 315 2008-01-10 09:26:12 by David Religious Liberty Forum Topics Posts Last post Church/State Issues 13 36 2007-12-11 10:31:39 by Ed White Bible Prophecy Forum Topics Posts Last post Principles of Interpretation 23 491 Yesterday 21:34:34 by Ed White Daniel & Revelation 51 673 2008-01-17 16:47:07 by rahab Creation/Evolution issues Forum Topics Posts Last post Evidences for Creation 12 37 2008-01-11 03:23:37 by Nathan Evolution fallacies 4 46 2007-10-22 08:36:40 by rahab Family Issues Forum Topics Posts Last post Important Principles 4 14 2007-11-05 12:37:02 by Zeal Divorce 2 40 2007-09-19 19:53:54 by Ed White Health Forum Topics Posts Last post Principles 3 26 2007-12-18 18:03:48 by Charles Margino Current Information 10 67 2007-12-21 19:56:59 by "); array_files[1]=new Array(0,1,"http://www.restorationministry.com/literature.html","2008-01-20","43K","Restoration Ministry - Literature","",""," Restoration Ministry - Literature LITERATURE The books, tracts and study guides which are listed on this page are all available from Restoration Ministries. Some of these materials are available for downloading in PDF or html format. The others will be available soon. In the meantime, if you see an item listed which is not available for downloading, please call or write to us and we will be happy to send it to you. Be sure to look at the books by A.T. Jones which we have recently added to the site (June 10, 2007). These books are of especial interest to those who wish to have a true biblical perspective on questions such as, what is the church? and, what are the true principles on which Christian church organization should be based. Many Seventh-day Adventists have wondered about the circumstances and reasons under which A.T. Jones was separated from the SDA denomination. For a report of what really happened, right from the horses mouth, be sure to read the booklets entitled, Some History, Experience and Facts, and, An Appeal for Evangelical Christianity. There is also a list of articles, available for online reading, which, at the moment, deal with the following subjects: Righteousness by faith The Godhead Does God Kill? The Feast Days BOOKS The Apostle Paul wrote to Timothy saying: “And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.” - 2 Timothy 2:15 We sincerely invite you to examine these truth-filled books listed here. These books are not designed in any manner to replace the study of the Scriptures, but rather, have been written to help the earnest Bible student to have a clearer understanding of God’s word. All of these books are available in normal web html format and some are available in Adobe Acrobat© format for true wysiwyg reproduction. ________________________________________ Who is Telling the Truth About God? Who is Telling the Truth About God give extensive evidence from the Scriptures regarding th "); array_files[2]=new Array(0,1,"http://www.restorationministry.com/links.html","2008-01-20","13K","Restoration Ministry - Links","",""," Restoration Ministry - Links LINKS HUNGARIAN (magyar) www.filadelfia.hu GERMAN (deutsch) www.heart4truth.de POLISH (polska) www.prawda.own.pl ROMANIAN www.divinavindecare.ro ENGLISH www.smyrna.org www.presenttruth.info www.restoremusic.com www.thehomeschooledge.com www.hearthtohearth.org www.homechurchresources.com www.youthforgod.net "); array_files[3]=new Array(0,1,"http://www.restorationministry.com/newsletter.html","2008-01-18","17K","Restoration Ministry - News Letter","",""," Restoration Ministry - News Letter NEWS LETTER Open Face is dedicated to the promotion of the truths committed to the Advent movement, as believed and taught by the early Adventist pioneers. In particular to the restoration of those truths which have been cast down to the ground and trampled underfoot by the papacy, and adopted by her daughters. Open Face is published at least once quarterly, and is sent free of cost to all who desire to receive it. If you would like to receive this newsletter simply send us your name and mailing address. You may find our contact information here. We also offer an email version which you may receive by sending us your email information. ISSUES 1996 1 - November 1997 2 - June 3 - October 1998 4 - April 5 - July 6 - September 7 - November 1999 8 - January 9 - March 10 - June 11 - September 12 - December 2000 13 - February 14 - April 15 - May 16 - July 17 - October 18 - December 2001 19 - February 20 - April 21 - June 22 - August 23 - December 2002 24 - February 25 - April 26 - June 27 - August 28 - October 29 - December 2003 30 - February 31 - May 32 - July 33 - September 34 - November 2004 35 - January 36 - March 37 - May 38 - July 39 - September 40 - November 2005 41 - January 42 - March/May 43 - July 44 - September 45 - November 2006 46 - January 47 - March 48 - May 49 - July 50 - September 51 - November 2007 52 - January 53 - March 54 - May 55 - July 56 - September 57 - November 2008 58 - January "); array_files[4]=new Array(0,1,"http://www.restorationministry.com/news.html","2008-01-18","14K","Restoration Ministry - Restoring the Truth about God","",""," Restoration Ministry - Restoring the Truth about God NEWS Current News from Restoration Ministries New Year wishes We take this opportunity to wish a very happy and wonderful new year to all who visit this site from time to time. As we enter this new year we are reminded that the coming of our dear Lord and Savior is one year closer and with this in mind we feel a greater urge to encourage all who have not yet entered into a personal relationship with the Father and the Son to do so now. Our wish for you this year is that we all will seek God and find him as we search for Him with all our heart. May the joy and peace and FREEDOM that is found in Christ be ours as we find our place in him!! Happy New Year!! Campmeeting (Update) Its that time of year again when we look forward to our annual Jamaican Campmeeting. Campmeeting this year will be held from March 20-24, 2008. We will be announcing the venue and speakers at a later date. You are encouraged to attend if at all possible. We anticipate a wonderful, spiritual time.. Those coming from overseas who would like to make prior arrangements can contact us here at Restoration Ministries. Phone - (876) 603-0821 - Jamaica (304) 932-4543 - US Number Email - info@restorationministry.com Newsletter At Restoration Ministries we publish a bi-monthly newsletter Open Face which we offer freely upon request. Each newsletter is packed with Scriptural truths essential for salvation. If you would like to receive this newsletter simply send us your name and mailing address. We also offer an email version of the newsletter which is sent out in either PDF or RTF format. To receive an email version just send us your email address. You may write to us at - newsletter@restorationministry.com Please check our newsletter section for the latest January 2008 Issue of Open Face!! Upcoming Events Cable Station We have been waiting for a cable provider to start broadcasting programs from our ministry, but wehave not yet started, so we want to just give an update as to what we are waiting "); array_files[5]=new Array(0,1,"http://www.restorationministry.com/Open_Face/html/58-jan08-nav.htm","2008-01-17","1K","Contents","",""," Contents Open Face No. 58 Jan 2008 Home Newsletter Menu PDF Version In this issue: Who Needed a Sacrifice Why the Old Covenant? Life in the Spirit Campmeeting Notice The Man that Died for Me Publisher Information "); array_files[6]=new Array(0,1,"http://www.restorationministry.com/Open_Face/html/58-jan08-content.htm","2008-01-17","63K","Open Face 58","",""," Open Face 58 Open Face No 58- Jan 2008 Who Needed a Sacrifice Ken Corklin For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God; (24) Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus: (25) Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God; (Rom 3:23-25) I would like us to consider this text for a moment and see if we can understand what it is really saying. There is a word used which I would like us to especially examine. It is the word, “propitiation.” Do we know what a propitiation is? I found a definition in Websters dictionary explaining what a propitiation is. Websters is an American dictionary, and Webster was a man who I believe, lived in the early 1800s. He was one of the first persons who came up with the idea of compiling a dictionary. In his original dictionary there are a lot of good definitions which are very helpful when applied to the King James version of the Bible, because the language is very close to that time, and Websters dictionary contains a lot of theological definitions as well. Websters dictionary contains two definitions for “propitiation.” The first definition says: Propitiation: “ The act of appeasing wrath and conciliating the favour of an offended person, the act of making propitious.” I think this is a definition that pagans understand very well and would heartily agree with. The Spirit of Prophecy gives us some insights into what happened when Adam sinned, which are helpful in properly understanding the meaning of this word, “propitiation.” When Adam and Eve sinned, God came to them, and the Bible tells us that they were given coats, but not just given coats to wear, they were also given explanations about a few things. They were given explanations about sin and what it was going to cost, and the One who was going to come. Years later, Cain and Abel came to offer up their sacrifices, and we are told what happened in Gene "); array_files[7]=new Array(0,1,"http://www.restorationministry.com/Open_Face/html/58-jan08-frameset.htm","2008-01-17","0K","Openface 58","",""," Openface 58 frameset rows=* cols=210,* framespacing=5 frameborder=yes border=5 bordercolor=#993300 frame src=58-jan08-nav.htm name=navFrame scrolling=auto noresize id=navFrame frame src=58-jan08-content.htm name=Contentframe scrolling=yes id=Contentframe noframes "); array_files[8]=new Array(0,4,"http://www.restorationministry.com/Open_Face/html/pdf/Openface%2058.pdf","2008-01-17","267K"," Open Face 58.p65","","","2 Cor. 3;18 Open Face JANUARY 2008 No. 58 Who Needed a Sacrifice Ken Corklin ful when applied to the King James version of the Bible, because the language is very close to that time, and Webster s dictionary contains a lot of theological definitions as well. Websters dictionary contains two definitions for propitiation. The first definition says: Propitiation: The act of appeasi n g wrath and conciliating the f a v o u r of an offended person, the act of making propitious. I think this is a definition that pagans understand very well and would heartily agree with. The Spirit of Prophecy gives us some insights into what happened when Adam sinned, which are helpful in properly understanding the meaning of this word, propitiation. When Adam and Eve sinned, God came to them, and the Bible tells us that they were given coats, but not just given coats to wear, they were also given explanations about a few things. They were given explanations about sin and what it was going to cost, and the One who was going to come. Years later, Cain and Abel came to offer up their sacrifices, and we are told what happened in Genesis chapter 3. Abel offered up the sacrifice which represented what God was going to do for mankind, while Cain decided that he was just going to offer up a sacrifice of his choice, something which represented the labour of his hands. The record tells us that God did not accept Cains sacrifice. You know, God was still in communion with man at this point. Here, in chapter 3 of Genesis, God was still talking to Cain and Abel. Cain offered up the wrong sacrifice and God told him, look, if you offer up the right sacrifice I will accept it just as I did Abels. God was still talking with him. In His mercy, God w a s communicating with Cain so clearly, so intimately, that when Cain killed his brother Abel and the Lord asked, where is your brother? Cain was able to literally talk back to God w h e n he asked God, am I my brother s keeper? But this was not the end of the story. Something tragic happened as a result o "); array_files[9]=new Array(0,1,"http://www.restorationministry.com/Open_Face/html/20-april-2001-nav.htm","2008-01-16","2K","Nav","",""," Nav Open Face No. 20 April 2001 In this issue: The Measure of Gods love (part 2) Trusting Gods Love As I See It Meetings in North Carolina Whee Is The Third Person? Campmeeting Bush opens Popes Cultural Centre Publisher Information PDF version Newsletters Menu "); array_files[10]=new Array(0,1,"http://www.restorationministry.com/Open_Face/html/20-april-2001-frameset.html","2008-01-16","0K","Contents","",""," Contents frameset rows=* cols=210,* framespacing=5 frameborder=yes border=5 bordercolor=#993300 frame src=20-april-2001-nav.htm name=navFrame scrolling=auto noresize id=navFrame frame src=20-april-2001-content.htm name=Contentframe id=Contentframe noframes "); array_files[11]=new Array(0,1,"http://www.restorationministry.com/Open_Face/html/20-april-2001-content.htm","2008-01-16","64K","Contents","",""," Contents Open Face No 20 - April 2001 The Measure of Gods Love (Part 2) David Clayton God always loves us whether or not it is evident, but sometimes when He is silent we begin to question that love. We sometimes say, “Lord I need some money, I am having this problemand you are not solving it. This person is sick, and I prayed for You to heal him, but I havent heard anything from You.” But whether silent or speaking, demonstrating or quiet, God always loves us. How long did God have to think about whether He should save me, or whether Jesus should die for me? how long did He have to think about it? My mind cannot grasp the time, distance or the ages. God had eternity to think about the death of Christ for me, about my ungratefulness, and His Son bleeding on that tree, suffering for an ungrateful, unaware, unconscionable, degraded vile people. He had to think about How they would beat Him, and spit in His face, or even how I, who say I am a Christian, would disobey Him day after day. He had all the time in the universe to change His mind, but He never did, because His love for me never changed. I can never do something today that is so evil that it surprises Him. He contemplated these things from eternity, and still thought it was worthwhile to give His son to die for me. Therefore dont you ever question the love of God. You cannot do something so bad that it cuts you off from that love. It might cut you off from the manifestation of that love, He might not be able to show it to you, because you have shut the door in His face, but you cannot stop Him from loving you. Never let the question come into your mind again. When you pray and dont seem to get an answer, Remember that God in love and wisdom is working out something better for you. More than conquerors Romans 8:28 says, “All things work together for good to them that love God.” Now if you follow that argument, reading on down in the chapter you will see where Paul asks, “who shall separate us from the love of God? Now separation means that some obstacle h "); array_files[12]=new Array(0,1,"http://www.restorationministry.com/multimedia.html","2008-01-15","18K","Multimedia","",""," Multimedia MULTIMEDIA Welcome to the multimedia section of our website. The audio messages listed here are available on either CD or audio cassette. Most of them are also available for download in the Live Audio section of this site. LIVE VIDEO! The video messages are available on tape or DVD. Some are available for download or live viewing and this is indicated by the fact that they are highlighted in blue like this. Simply click on any of these highlighted titles to either view or download that particular sermon. The quality of the downloaded video is not the best as we have had to make the file sizes smaller for downloading. If you wish to have a good quality copy of any of our video presentations then we suggest that you write and request a copy on DVD. You may watch or download our latest video sermon by clicking here We do not have a costing on these materials but your donations are appreciated as they help us to share these messages with those who are unable to contribute to the cost. AUDIO 1- The Mark of The Beast, 3- What is The Mark 7- The Law & The Sabbath, 11- What God Wants 14- The Faith Which Pleases God, 15- The Doctrine of Balaam, 16- Delivered Unto Hardship 24 -The Offence of The Cross, 27- Reality of The Ministry of Christ, 28- Is It Easy To Be Saved? 29- Defending The Investigative Judgment 35- The Measure of God’s Love, 36- The Things Which Are Revealed 37- God on Trial 38- The Spirit of Antichrist 39- The Omega of Deadly Heresies 40- The Missing Names 46- The Perils of Idolatry 48- The Spirit of Jonathan 50- The Investigative Judgement 53- Sodom’s Iniquity 56- The Final Restoration 59- The Cost of True Revival 61- Who or What is The Holy Spirit 62- What is The Church 63- The New Covenant 64- The Greater Purpose 65- The Meat That Endureth 68- Essential Knowledge 73- The Nature of Christ 74- Who is The Antichrist 75- Is Our Foundation Biblical? 76- Denying The Power 77- Who is This God 78- Law and Grace 79- Armageddon 80- Seal of The Living God 83- Omnipresence of God 84- Go "); array_files[13]=new Array(0,1,"http://www.restorationministry.com/liveaudio.html","2008-01-15","26K","Restoration Ministry - Live Audio","",""," Restoration Ministry - Live Audio LIVE AUDIO Welcome to our live audio page. We have provided live audio sermons for downloading or, online listening. These sermons have been listed in various categories so you can find what you are looking for more easily. We hope these messages will be a blessing to you as you listen! You may download our latest audio sermon by clicking here Categories: Righteousness by Faith The Godhead Inspirational Doctrinal Church Organization Besides listening to these messages over the Internet, the cassette or CD version of these tapes are available on a donation basis. You may contact us by e-mail: See contact information here. RIGHTEOUSNESS BY FAITH Over the past few months our Father has been leading us to a better understanding of the message of Righteousness by Faith. This message has brought us a fresh understanding of the meaning of primitive Godliness and we have appreciated more fully the Love of God in giving his Son Jesus to become us. We are confident that a proper understanding of this message will bring about a change in your life and will cause you to live in heaven even while you are on earth. David Clayton Becoming what you are Clarifying the issues The end of the struggle Surrender No other gods before me The new creation True repentance In Christ Why did Jesus have to die A finished work The two covenants Being faithful to the faith Amazing Grace The Goal of The Law The Judgment of Christ Life After Death The three gospels What must I do? Howard Williams What is your identity The fight of faith The Gospel Freedom from the law Ken Corklin Who Needed a Sacrifice Neville Morris How Good is perfect? THE GODHEAD Over the years God has lead us to the true understanding of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. It is very clear from the scriptures that the concept of the Trinity is false and very deceptive. The trinity doctrine separates us from a personal relationship with God and without a proper understanding of God, our worship is in vain, because as Jesus told "); array_files[14]=new Array(0,1,"http://www.restorationministry.com/books/cor/The_Victory_of_Faith.htm","2007-12-11","13K","COR - The Victory of Faith","",""," COR - The Victory of Faith The Victory of Faith The Bible says that the just shall live by faith. The righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith. Rom. 1:17. Nothing can better illustrate the working of faith than some of the examples that are recorded for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the Scriptures might have hope. Rom. 15:4. We will take, first, a notable event recorded in the twentieth chapter of 2 Chronicles. Let the reader follow the running comment with his Bible. It came to pass after this, also, that the children of Moab and the children of Ammon and with them other beside the Ammonites, came against Jehoshaphat to battle. Then there came some that told Jehoshaphat, saying, There cometh a great multitude against thee from beyond the sea on this side Syria; and, behold, they be in Hazazon-tamar, which is Engedi. Verses 1, 2. This great host caused the king and the people to fear, but they took the wise course of gathering together, to ask help of the Lord; even out of all the cities of Judah they came to seek the Lord. Verses 3, 4. Then follows the prayer of Jehoshaphat, as leader of the congregation, and it is worth special study, since it was a prayer of faith and contained within itself the beginning of victory: And Jehoshaphat stood in the congregation of Judah and Jerusalem, in the house of the Lord, before the new court, and said, O Lord God of our fathers, art not thou God in heaven? and rulest thou not over all the kingdoms of the heathen? and in thine hand is there not power and might, so that none is able to withstand thee? Verses 5, 6. That was an excellent beginning of a prayer. It starts with a recognition of God in heaven. So the model prayer begins, Our Father who art in heaven. What does this signify? That God, as God in heaven, is Creator. It carries with it the recognition of His power over all the kingdoms of the world and of the powers of darkness; the fact that He is in heaven, the Creator, show that in His hand there is power and might, so that non "); array_files[15]=new Array(0,1,"http://www.restorationministry.com/books/cor/The_Righteousness_of_God.htm","2007-12-11","20K","COR - The Righteousness of God","",""," COR - The Righteousness of God The Righteousness of God But seek ye first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added unto you. Matt. 6:33. The righteousness of God, says Jesus, is the one thing to be sought in this life. Food and clothing are minor matters in comparison with it. God will supply them, as a matter of course, so that anxious care and worriment need not be expended on them; but to secure Gods kingdom and His righteousness should be the only object of life. In 1 Cor. 1:30 we are told that Christ is made unto us righteousness as well as wisdom, and since Christ is the wisdom of God and in Him dwelleth all the fullness of the Godhead bodily, it is evident that the righteousness which He is made to us is the righteousness of God. Let us see what this righteousness is. In Ps. 119:172 the Psalmist thus addresses the Lord, My tongue shall speak of Thy word, for all Thy commandments are righteousness. The commandments are righteousness, not simply in the abstract, but they are the righteousness of God. For proof read the following:-Lift up your eyes to the heavens and look upon the earth beneath, for the heavens shall vanish away like smoke and the earth shall wax old like a garment, and they that dwell therein shall die in like manner; but my salvation shall be forever and my righteousness shall not be abolished. Hearken unto me, ye that know righteousness, the people in whose heart is my law; fear ye not the reproach of men, neither be ye afraid of their revilings. Isa. 51:6,7. What do we learn from this? That they who know the righteousness of God are those in whose heart is His law, and therefore that the law of God is the righteousness of God. This may be proved again, as follows: All unrighteousness is sin. 1 John 5:17. Whosoever committeth sin transgresseth also the law; for sin is the transgression of the law. 1 John 3:4. Sin is the transgression of the law, and it is also unrighteousness; therefore sin and unrighteousness are identical. But if unrighteousness is "); array_files[16]=new Array(0,1,"http://www.restorationministry.com/books/cor/The_Lord_Our_Righteousness.htm","2007-12-11","22K","COR - The Lord our Righteousness","",""," COR - The Lord our Righteousness The Lord Our Righteousness The question, then, is, How may the righteousness that is necessary in order that one may enter that city, be obtained? To answer this question is the great work of the gospel. Let us first have an object lesson on justification or the imparting of righteousness. The fact may help us to a better understanding of the theory. The example is given in Luke 18:9-14 in these words: “And He spake this parable unto certain which trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and despised others; Two men went up into the temple to pray; the one a Pharisee and the other a publican. The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, God, I thank thee, that I am not as other men are, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this publican. I fast twice in the week, I give tithes of all that I possess. And the publican, standing afar off, would not lift up so much as his eyes unto heaven, but smote upon his breast, saying, God be merciful to me a sinner. I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other; for everyone that exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted. This was given to show how we may not, and how we may, attain to righteousness. The Pharisees are not extinct; there are many in these days who expect to gain righteousness by their own good deeds. They trust in themselves that they are righteous. They do not always so openly boast of their goodness, but they show in other ways that they are trusting to their own righteousness. Perhaps the spirit of the Pharisee--the spirit which would recount to God ones own good deeds as a reason for favor--is found as frequently as anywhere else among those professed Christians who feel the most bowed down on account of their sins. They know that they have sinned, and they feel condemned. They mourn over their sinful state and deplore their weakness. Their testimonies never rise above this level. Often they refrain for very shame from speaking in t "); array_files[17]=new Array(0,1,"http://www.restorationministry.com/books/cor/Practical_Illustrations_of_Deliverance_From_Bondage.htm","2007-12-11","18K","COR - Pratical Illustrations ...","",""," COR - Pratical Illustrations ... Practical Illustrations of Deliverance From Bondage Now let us take some illustrations of the power of faith to deliver from bondage. We will quote Luke 13:10-17:- And he was teaching in one of the synagogues on the Sabbath. And, behold, there was a woman which had a spirit of infirmity eighteen years, and was bowed together, and could in nowise lift up herself. And when Jesus saw her, he called her to him, and said unto her, Woman, thou art loosed from thine infirmity. And he laid his hands on her, and immediately she was made straight, and glorified God. And the ruler of the synagogue answered with indignation, because that Jesus had healed on the Sabbath-day, and said unto the people, There are six days in which men ought to work; in them therefore come and be healed, and not on the Sabbath-day. The Lord then answered him, and said, Thou hypocrite, doth not each one of you on the Sabbath loose his ox or his ass from the stall, and lead him away to watering? and ought not this woman, being a daughter of Abraham, whom Satan hath bound, lo, these eighteen years, be loosed from this bond on the Sabbath day? And when he had said these things, all his adversaries were ashamed; and all the people rejoiced for all the glorious things that were done by him. We may pass by the carping of the hypocritical ruler, to consider the miracle. The woman was bound; we, through fear of death, have been all our life-time subject to bondage. Satan had bound the woman; Satan has also set snares for our feet and has brought us into captivity. She could in nowise lift up herself; our iniquities have taken hold of us, so that we are not able to look up. Ps. 40:12. With a word and a touch Jesus set the woman free from her infirmities; we have the same merciful High Priest now in the heavens, who is touched with the feeling of our infirmities, and the same word will deliver us from evil. For what purpose were the miracles of healing recorded, which were performed by Jesus? John tells us. It was not sim "); array_files[18]=new Array(0,1,"http://www.restorationministry.com/books/cor/Is_Christ_a_Created_Being.htm","2007-12-11","8K","COR - Is Christ a Created Being?","",""," COR - Is Christ a Created Being? Is Christ a Created Being Before passing to some of the practical lessons that are to be learned from these truths, we must dwell for a few moments upon an opinion that is honestly held by many who would not for any consideration willingly dishonor Christ, but who, through that opinion, do actually deny His Divinity. It is the idea that Christ is a created being, who, through the good pleasure of God, was elevated to His present lofty position. No one who holds this view can possibly have any just conception of the exalted position which Christ really occupies. The view in question is built upon a misconception of a single text, Rev. 3:14: And unto the angel of the church of the Laodiceans write, These things saith the Amen, the faithful and true Witness, the Beginning of the creation of God. This is wrongly interpreted to mean that Christ is the first being that God created--that Gods work of creation began with Him. But this view antagonizes the scripture which declares that Christ Himself created all things. To say that God began His work of creation by creating Christ is to leave Christ entirely out of the work of creation. The word rendered beginning is arche, meaning, as well, head or chief. It occurs in the name of the Greek ruler, Archon, in archbishop and the word archangel. Take this last word. Christ is the archangel. See Jude 9; 1 Thess. 4:16; John 5:28, 29; Dan. 10:21. This does not mean that He is the first of the angels, for He is not an angel but is above them. Heb. 1:4. It means that He is the chief or prince of the angels, just as an archbishop is the head of the bishops. Christ is the commander of the angels. See Rev. 19:19-14. He created the angels. Col. 1:16. And so the statement that He is the beginning or head of the creation of God means that in Him creation had its beginning; that, as He Himself says, He is Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end, the first and the last. Rev. 21:6; 22:13. He is the source whence all things have their origin. Neither "); array_files[19]=new Array(0,1,"http://www.restorationministry.com/books/cor/Introduction.htm","2007-12-11","7K","COR - Introduction","",""," COR - Introduction Introduction In the first verse of the third chapter of Hebrews we have an exhortation which comprehends all the injunctions given to the Christian. It is this: Wherefore, holy brethren, partakers of the heavenly calling, consider the Apostle and High Priest of our profession, Christ Jesus. To do this as the Bible enjoins, to consider Christ continually and intelligently, just as He is, will transform one into a perfect Christian, for by beholding we become changed. Ministers of the gospel have an inspired warrant for keeping the theme, Christ, continually before the people and directing the attention of the people to Him alone. Paul said to the Corinthians, I determined not to know anything among you, save Jesus Christ, and him crucified (1 Cor. 2:2), and there is no reason to suppose that his preaching to the Corinthians was different in any respect from his preaching elsewhere. Indeed, he tells us that when God revealed His Son in him, it was that he might preach Him among the heathen (Gal. 1:15, 16), and his joy was that to him grace had been given to preach among the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ. Eph. 3:8. But the fact that the apostles made Christ the burden of all their preaching is not our sole warrant for magnifying Him. His name is the only name under heaven given among men whereby we can be saved. Acts 4:12. Christ Himself declared that no man can come unto the Father but by Him. John 14:6. To Nicodemus He said, And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of Man be lifted up; that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have eternal life. John 3:14, 15. This lifting up of Jesus, while it has primary reference to His crucifixion, embraces more than the mere historical fact; it means that Christ must be lifted up by all who believe in Him, as the crucified Redeemer, whose grace and glory are sufficient to supply the worlds greatest need; it means that He should be lifted up in all His exceeding loveliness and power as God with u "); array_files[20]=new Array(0,1,"http://www.restorationministry.com/books/cor/Important_Practical_Lessons.htm","2007-12-11","15K","COR - Important Pratical Lessons","",""," COR - Important Pratical Lessons Important Practical Lessons It is not merely as a beautiful theory, a mere dogma, that we should consider Christ as God and Creator. Every doctrine of the Bible is for our practical benefit and should be studied for that purpose. Let us first see what relation this doctrine sustains to the central commandment of the law of God. In Genesis 2:1-3 we find these words closing the record of creation, Thus the heavens and the earth were finished and all the host of them. And on the seventh day God ended his work which he had made; and he rested on the seventh day from all his work which he had made. And God blessed the seventh day, and sanctified it; because that in it he had rested from all His work which God created and made. The Jewish translation renders the text more literally thus, Thus were finished the heavens and the earth and all their host. And God had finished on the seventh day His work which He had made, etc. This is the same that we find in the fourth commandment, Ex. 20:8-11. In this we find, what is most natural, that the same Being who created, rested. He who worked six days in creating the earth, rested on the seventh and blessed and sanctified it. But we have already learned that God the Father created the worlds by his son Jesus Christ and that Christ created everything that has an existence. Therefore the conclusion is inevitable that Christ rested on that first seventh day at the close of the six days of creation and that he blessed and sanctified it. Thus the seventh day--the Sabbath--is most emphatically the Lords day. When Jesus said to the carping Pharisees, For the Son of man is Lord even of the Sabbath day (Matt. 12:8), He declared His lordship of the identical day which they had so scrupulously observed in form, and He did this in words which show that He regarded it as His badge of authority, as demonstrating the fact that He was greater than the temple. Thus the seventh day is the Divinely appointed memorial of creation. It is the most honored of all d "); array_files[21]=new Array(0,1,"http://www.restorationministry.com/books/cor/How_Shall_We_Consider_Christ.htm","2007-12-11","4K","COR - How Shall we Consider Christ","",""," COR - How Shall we Consider Christ How Shall We Consider Christ? But how should we consider Christ? Just as He has revealed Himself to the world, according to the witness which He bore concerning Himself. In that marvelous discourse recorded in the fifth chapter of John, Jesus said, For as the Father raiseth up the dead, and quickeneth them; even so the Son quickeneth whom He will. For the Father judgeth no man, but hath committed all judgment unto the Son; that all men should honor the Son, even as they honor the Father. He that honoreth not the Son honoreth not the Father which hath sent Him. Verses 21-23. To Christ is committed the highest prerogative, that of judging. He must receive the same honor that is due to God and for the reason that He is God. The beloved disciple bears this witness, In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. John 1:1. That this Divine Word is none other than Jesus Christ is shown by verse 14: And the Word was made flesh and dwelt among us (and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the Only-begotten of the Father), full of grace and truth.” The Word was in the beginning. The mind of man cannot grasp the ages that are spanned in this phrase. It is not given to men to know when or how the Son was begotten; but we know that he was the Divine Word, not simply before He came to this earth to die, but even before the world was created. Just before His crucifixion He prayed, And now, O Father, glorify thou Me with Thine own self with the glory which I had with Thee before the world was. John 17:5. And more than seven hundred years before His first advent, His coming was thus foretold by the word of inspiration: But thou, Bethlehem Ephratah, though thou be little among the thousands of Judah, yet out of thee shall He come forth unto Me that is to be ruler in Israel; whose goings forth have been from of old, from the days of eternity. Micah 5:2, margin. We know that Christ proceeded forth and came from God (John 8:42), but it was so far back in the a "); array_files[22]=new Array(0,1,"http://www.restorationministry.com/books/cor/God_Manifest_In_the_Flesh__.htm","2007-12-11","13K","COR - God Manifest in the Flesh","",""," COR - God Manifest in the Flesh God Manifest In the Flesh And the Word was made flesh and dwelt among us. John 1:14. No words could more plainly show that Christ was both God and man. Originally only Divine, He took upon Himself human nature and passed among men as only a common mortal, except at those times when His Divinity flashed through, as on the occasion of the cleansing of the temple or when His burning words of simple truth forced even His enemies to confess that never man spake like this man. The humiliation which Christ voluntarily took upon Himself is best expressed by Paul to the Philippians. Have this mind in you which was also in Christ Jesus, who being originally in the form of God, counted it not a thing to be grasped [that is, to be clung to] to be on an equality with God, but emptied Himself, taking the form of a bond-servant, becoming in the likeness of men; and being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, becoming obedient even unto death, yea, the death of the cross. Phil. 2:5-8, Revised Version, marginal reading. The above rendering makes this text much more plain than it is in the common version. The idea is that, although Christ was in the form of God, being the brightness of His glory and the express image of His Person (Heb. 1:3), having all the attributes of God, being the Ruler of the universe, and the One whom all Heaven delighted to honor, He did not think that any of these things were to be desired, so long as men were lost and without strength. He could not enjoy His glory while man was an outcast, without hope. So He emptied Himself, divested Himself of all His riches and His glory, and took upon Himself the nature of man, in order that He might redeem him. And so we may reconcile Christs unity with the Father with the statement, My Father is greater than I. It is impossible for us to understand how Christ could, as God, humble Himself to the death of the cross, and it is worse than useless for us to speculate about it. All we can do is to accept the facts as they are "); array_files[23]=new Array(0,1,"http://www.restorationministry.com/books/cor/Christ_the_Lawgiver.htm","2007-12-11","13K","COR - Christ the Lawgiver","",""," COR - Christ the Lawgiver Christ the Lawgiver For the Lord is our judge, the Lord is our lawgiver, the Lord is our king; he will save us. Isaiah 33:22. We have now to consider Christ in another character, yet not another. It is one that naturally results from His position as Creator, for the One who creates must certainly have authority to guide and control. We read in John 5:22, 23 the words of Christ, that the Father judgeth no man, but hath committed all judgment unto the Son; that all men should honor the Son even as they honor the Father. As Christ is the manifestation of the Father in creation, so is He the manifestation of the Father in giving and executing the law. A few texts of Scripture will suffice to prove this. In Numbers 21:4-6 we have the partial record of an incident that took place while the children of Israel were in the wilderness. Let us read it. And they journeyed from Mount Hor by the way of the Red Sea, to compass the land of Edom; and the soul of the people was much discouraged because of the way. And the people spake against God, and against Moses, Wherefore have ye brought us up out of Egypt to die in the wilderness? for there is no bread, neither is there any water; and our soul loatheth this light bread. And the Lord sent fiery serpents among the people, and they bit the people; and much people of Israel died. The people spoke against God and against Moses, saying, Why have ye brought us up into the wilderness? They found fault with their Leader. This is why they were destroyed by serpents. Now read the words of the apostle Paul concerning this same event: Neither let us tempt Christ, as some of them also tempted, and were destroyed of serpents. 1 Cor. 10:9. What does this prove? That the Leader against whom they were murmuring was Christ. This is further proved by the fact that when Moses cast in his lot with Israel, refusing to be called the son of Pharaohs daughter, he esteemed the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures of Egypt. Heb. 11:26. Read also 1 Cor. 10:4, "); array_files[24]=new Array(0,1,"http://www.restorationministry.com/books/cor/christ_our_righteousness_loch.htm","2007-12-11","3K","COR - loch","",""," COR - loch Introduction How Shall We Consider Christ Christ is God Christ As Creator Is Christ a Created Being God Manifest In the Flesh Important Practical Lessons Christ the Lawgiver The Righteousness of God The Lord Our Righteousness Acceptance With God The Victory of Faith Bond Servants and Freemen Practical Illustrations of Deliverance From Bondage Send mail to info@restorationministry.com with questions or com "); array_files[25]=new Array(0,1,"http://www.restorationministry.com/books/cor/christ_our_righteousness.htm","2007-12-11","5K","Christ Our Righteousness Frame Set","",""," Christ Our Righteousness Frame Set FRAMESET cols=25%,75 FRAME NAME=_navigator SRC=christ_our_righteousness_loch.htm target=_document FRAME NAME=_document SRC=Introduction.htm noframes NOFRAME Introduction How Shall We Consider Christ Christ is God Christ As Creator Is Christ a Created Being God Manifest In the Flesh Important Practical Lessons Christ the Lawgiver The Righteousness of God The Lord Our Righteousness Acceptance With God The Victory of Faith Bond Servants and Freemen Practical Illustrations of Deliverance From Bondage Send mail to info@restorationministry.com with questions or com "); array_files[26]=new Array(0,1,"http://www.restorationministry.com/books/cor/Christ_is_God.htm","2007-12-11","12K","COR - Christ is God","",""," COR - Christ is God Is Christ God? In many places in the Bible Christ is called God. The Psalmist says, The mighty God, even the Lord [Jehovah], hath spoken, and called the earth from the rising of the sun unto the going down thereof. Out of Zion, the perfection of beauty, God hath shined. Our God shall come, and shall not keep silence; a fire shall devour before him, and it shall be very tempestuous round about Him. He shall call to the heavens from above, and to the earth, that He may judge His people. Gather My saints together unto Me; those that have made a covenant with me by sacrifice. And the heavens shall declare His righteousness; for God is judge Himself. Ps. 50:1-6. That this passage has reference to Christ may be known 1) by the fact already learned, that all judgment is committed to the Son, and 2) by the fact that it is at the second coming of Christ that He sends His angels to gather together His elect from the four winds. Matt. 24:31. Our God shall come, and shall not keep silence. No. For when the Lord Himself descends from heaven, it will be with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God. 1 Thess. 4:16. This shout will be the voice of the Son of God, which will be heard by all that are in their graves and which will cause them to come forth. John 5:28, 29. With the living righteous they will be caught up to meet the Lord in the air, ever more to be with Him, and this will constitute our gathering together unto Him. 2 Thess. 2:1. Compare Ps. 50:5; Matt. 24:31, and 1 Thess. 4:16. A fire shall devour before Him, and it shall be very tempestuous round about Him for when the Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven with His mighty angels, it will be in flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ. 2 Thess. 1:8. So we know that Ps. 50:1-6 is a vivid description of the second coming of Christ for the salvation of His people. When He comes it will be as the mighty God. Compare Habakkuk 3. This is one of His ri "); array_files[27]=new Array(0,1,"http://www.restorationministry.com/books/cor/Christ_As_Creator.htm","2007-12-11","7K","COR - Christ as Creator","",""," COR - Christ as Creator Christ As Creator Immediately following the oft-quoted text which says that Christ, the Word, is God, we read that all things were made by him; and without him was not anything made that was made. John 1:3. Comment cannot make this statement any clearer than it is, therefore we pass to the words of Heb. 1:1-4, God...hath in these last days spoken unto us by His Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the worlds; who being the brightness of His glory, and the express image of his person, and upholding all things by the word of his power, when he had by himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the majesty on high; being made so much better than the angels, as he hath by inheritance obtained a more excellent name than they. Still more emphatic than this are the words of the apostle Paul to the Colossians. Speaking of Christ as the One through whom we have redemption, he describes Him as the One who is the image of the invisible God, the first-born of every creature; for by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers; all things were created by him, and for him; and he is before all things, and by him all things consist. Col. 1:15-17. This wonderful text should be carefully studied and often contemplated. It leaves not a thing in the universe that Christ did not create. He made everything in heaven, and everything on earth; H|e made everything that can be seen, and everything that cannot be seen ; the thrones and dominions,and the principalities and the powers in heaven, all depend upon Him for existence. And as He is before all things and their Creator, so by him do all things consist or hold together. This is equivalent to what is said in Heb. 1:3, that He upholds all things by the word of His power. It was by a word that the heavens were made, and that same word holds them in their place, and preserves them from destruction. We "); array_files[28]=new Array(0,1,"http://www.restorationministry.com/books/cor/Bond_Servants_and_Freemen.htm","2007-12-11","8K","COR - Bondservants and Freemen","",""," COR - Bondservants and Freemen Bond Servants and Freemen The power of faith in bringing victory may be shown by another line of Scripture texts, which are exceedingly practical. In the first place, let it be understood that the sinner is a slave. Christ said, Whosoever committeth sin is the servant of sin. John 8:34. Paul also says, putting himself in the place of an unrenewed man, For we know that the law is spiritual, but I am carnal, sold under sin. Rom. 7:14. A man who is sold is a slave; therefore, the man who is sold under sin is the slave of sin. Peter brings to view the same fact, when, speaking of corrupt, false teachers, he says, While they promise them liberty, they themselves are the servants of corruption, for of whom a man is overcome, of the same is he brought in bondage. 2 Peter 2:19. The prominent characteristic of the slave is that he cannot do as he pleases, but is bound to perform the will of another, no matter how irksome it may be. Paul thus proves the truth of his saying that he, as a carnal man, was the slave of sin. For that which I do I allow not; for what I would, that do I not; but what I hate, that do I. Now then it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me. For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh) dwelleth no good thing; for to will is present with me; but how to perform that which is good I find not. For the good that I would I do not; but the evil which I would not, that I do. Rom. 7:15, 17-19. The fact that sin controls proves that a man is a slave, and although everyone that committeth sin is the bond-servant of sin, the slavery becomes unendurable when the sinner has had a glimpse of freedom and longs for it, yet cannot break the chains which bind him to sin. The impossibility for the unrenewed man to do even the good that he would like to do has been shown already from Rom. 8:7, 8 and Gal. 5:17. How many people have in their own experience proved the truth of these scriptures. How many have resolved and resolved again and yet their sincerest resolutions have p "); array_files[29]=new Array(0,1,"http://www.restorationministry.com/books/cor/Acceptance_With_God.htm","2007-12-11","16K","COR - Acceptance with God","",""," COR - Acceptance with God Acceptance With God Many people hesitate to make a start to serve the Lord, because they fear that God will not accept them, and thousands who have been professed followers of Christ for years are still doubting their acceptance with God. For the benefit of such I write, and I would not bewilder their minds with speculations, but will endeavor to give them the simple assurances of Gods word. Will the Lord receive me? I reply by another question: Will a man receive that which he has bought? If you go to the store and make a purchase, will you receive the goods when they are delivered? Of course you will; there is no room for any question about it. The fact that you bought the goods and paid your money for them is sufficient proof, not only that you are willing, but that you are anxious, to receive them. If you did not want them, you would not have bought them. Moreover, the more you paid for them the more anxious you are to receive them. If the price that you paid was great and you had almost given your life to earn it, then there can be no question but that you will accept the purchase when it is delivered. Your great anxiety is lest there should be some failure to deliver it. Now let us apply this simple, natural illustration to the case of the sinner coming to Christ. In the first place, He has bought us. What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own? For ye are bought with a price. 1 Cor. 6:19, 20. The price that was paid for us was His own blood--His life. Paul said to the elders of Ephesus: Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which He hath purchased with His own blood. Acts 20:28. For as much as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation [manner of life] received by tradition from your fathers; but with the precious blood of Christ, "); array_files[30]=new Array(0,4,"http://www.restorationministry.com/books/ttc/pdf/A%20time%20to%20choose.pdf","2007-12-11","355K","A%20time%20to%20choose.pdf","","","By David Clayton A Time to Choose THE MARK OF THE BEAST IS COMING POWERFUL SATANIC FORCES ARE ABOUT TO BE UNLEASHED! WHAT IS THIS MYSTERIOUS MARK OF THE BEAST? HOW FAR ARE WE AWAY FROM THIS TERRIBLE CRISIS? HOW CAN WE BE PREPARED FOR WHAT IS COMING? FIND THE STARTLING ANSWERS WITH INDISPUTABLE PROOFS IN THIS BOOKLET Published by Smyrna Gospel Ministries HC 64 Box 128B Welch, WV 24801-9606 phone: (304) 732-9204 e-mail: info@smyrna.org And Restoration Ministries P. O. Box 23, Knockpatrick Manchester, Jamaica, W.I. Phone: (876) 904-7392 e-mail: david000@cwjamaica.com Cover design by Paul Clayton A TIME TO CHOOSE David Clayton Blessed is he that readeth, and they that hear the words of this prophecy, and keep those things which are written therein, for the time is at hand. (Revelation 1:3) This blessing is pronounced in the first chapter of the book of Revelation. In this verse, God lets us know that it is of vital importance that we not only read, but also understand, and keep or obey, the things which are written in this book. He lets us understand that Revelation is a book of tremendous significance for those who live upon the earth in the last days. In a similar book, the book of Daniel, we are told that: none of the wicked shall understand, but the wise shall understand. (Daniel 12:10) You can see that it is a serious issue whether or not we understand these prophecies, whether or not we are among the wicked or the wise. The prophecy of the mark of the beast is not something which is easy to understand. There are many different interpretations and as a result, there is a great deal of confusion. If you speak to a dozen different people, most of them will have a different interpretation of this passage of scripture. And yet, it is of vital importance that we understand this matter correctly, because the Lord tells us in Revelation chapter 14 verses 9­10 that, If any man worship the beast .... and receive his mark in his forehead or in his right hand ... he shall be tormented with fire and brimstone in the pre "); array_files[31]=new Array(0,1,"http://www.restorationministry.com/books/ttc/html/a_time_to_choose.htm","2007-12-11","107K","A time to choose","",""," A time to choose A TIME TO CHOOSE David Clayton Blessed is he that readeth, and they that hear the words of this prophecy, and keep those things which are written therein, for the time is at hand. (Revelation 1:3) This blessing is pronounced in the first chapter of the book of Revelation. In this verse, God lets us know that it is of vital importance that we not only read, but also understand, and “keep” or obey, the things which are written in this book. He lets us understand that Revelation is a book of tremendous significance for those who live upon the earth in the last days. In a similar book, the book of Daniel, we are told that: “none of the wicked shall understand, but the wise shall understand.” (Daniel 12:10) You can see that it is a serious issue whether or not we understand these prophecies, whether or not we are among the “wicked” or the “wise.” The prophecy of the mark of the beast is not something which is easy to understand. There are many different interpretations and as a result, there is a great deal of confusion. If you speak to a dozen different people, most of them will have a different interpretation of this passage of scripture. And yet, it is of vital importance that we understand this matter correctly, because the Lord tells us in Revelation chapter 14 verses 9–10 that, If any man worship the beast .... and receive his mark in his forehead or in his right hand ... he shall be tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence of the holy angels, and in the presence of the Lamb. So we see that the most terrible threatenings ever found in the word of God are pronounced against those who worship the beast and receive his mark. On the other hand, in Revelation chapter thirteen in the last few verses, we are told that those who refuse to worship the beast, those who refuse to receive his mark, will not be permitted to buy or sell, will be ostracized–cut off from society–and eventually will be placed under sentence of death. So we see th "); array_files[32]=new Array(0,4,"http://www.restorationministry.com/books/UTR/pdf/UPON%20THIS%20ROCK.pdf","2007-12-11","319K"," Upon This Rock",""," The Unfolding Mystery of Gods Church","UPON THIS ROCK THE UNFOLDING MYSTERY OF GODS CHURCH By Colin A. Gyles UPON THIS ROCK THE UNFOLDING MYSTERY OF GODS CHURCH By Colin A. Gyles Gods Love P. O. Box 542 Kingston 10 Jamaica W.I. -i- Table of Contents Foreword . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . iii Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . iv The Old Testament Church . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 The New Testament Church . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5 The Mystery Of Iniquity . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15 The Leaven of Babylon . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28 Effect Of Tradition . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 37 Divine Co-ordination of the Body . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 41 The Final Conflict . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 46 Pertinent Questions Considered . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 63 Conclusion . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 70 List of References . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 74 - II - Foreword Within Christendom there is a multiplicity of different denominations. Traditionally, it had been the case that many of these considered their particular religious establishment to be, uniquely, the true church. However, more recently, as the ecumenical movement gathers momentum and widens its envelope, more arid more of these religious bodies are extending their acceptance criteria to include other belief systems. In doing this, they have now started to reckon the ecumenical fraternity, broadly, as The Church To what extent is either of these concepts of The Church compatible with the Biblical definition and description? This treatise seeks to establish the Biblical perspective on the subject. We consider the Biblical perspective on the subject of The Church to be more important and determinative than any other opinion or outlook on the subject because the subject itself is a Biblical one, having o "); array_files[33]=new Array(0,1,"http://www.restorationministry.com/books/UTR/html/upon_this_rock_VpLoch.htm","2007-12-11","2K","Upon this Rock - Loch","",""," Upon this Rock - Loch Title Page Foreword Introduction The Old Testament Church The New Testament Church The Mystery of Iniquity The Leaven of Babylon Effects of Babylon Divine Co-ordination of the Body The Final Conflict Pertinent Questions Answered Conclusion List of References "); array_files[34]=new Array(0,1,"http://www.restorationministry.com/books/UTR/html/upon_this_rock.htm","2007-12-11","5K","UPON THIS ROCK","",""," UPON THIS ROCK FRAMESET cols=25%,75 FRAME SRC=upon_this_rock_VpLoch.htm NAME=_LeftBanner FRAMEBORDER=YES MARGINWIDTH=8 target=_Main FRAME SRC=Title_Page.htm NAME=_Main FRAMEBORDER=YES MARGINWIDTH=12 noframes NOFRAME Title Page Foreword Introduction The Old Testament Church The New Testament Church The Mystery of Iniquity The Leaven of Babylon Effects of Babylon Divine Co-ordination of the Body The Final Conflict Pertinent Questions Answered Conclusion List of References Send mail to info@restorationministry.com with questions or com "); array_files[35]=new Array(0,1,"http://www.restorationministry.com/books/UTR/html/Title_Page.htm","2007-12-11","2K","Upon this Rock - Title Page","",""," Upon this Rock - Title Page UPON THIS ROCK THE UNFOLDING MYSTERY OF GOD’S CHURCH By Colin A. Gyles Send mail to info@restorationministry.com with questions or com "); array_files[36]=new Array(0,1,"http://www.restorationministry.com/books/UTR/html/The_Old_Testament_Church.htm","2007-12-11","16K","Upon this Rock - The OT Church","",""," Upon this Rock - The OT Church Chapter 1 The Old Testament Church Originally Intended Purpose For Israel In God’s choice of the nation of Israel as His special people there was a greater purpose than simply selecting favourites - God is not partial. It was not God’s intention that the blood descendants of Abraham should be the only set of people on the face of the earth with whom He would have a meaningful relationship. It was intended that Israel should be a nucleus through whom God would work to bring all humanity back into harmony with Him. The record tells us that in the beginning man was a perfect creation but as a result of sin, that communion - that open communion and meaningful relationship that man had with God was broken; as it is put in Isa. 59:2: “But your iniquities have separated between you and your God, and your sins have hid His face from you, that He will not hear.” As a result of sin man became subject to the influence of the Devil. Adam rebelled against God and brought the entire world which was under his dominion subject to Satan (Heb. 2:6-8; 2 Pet. 2:19). Over time, the character of the Devil became so indelibly stamped upon the thoughts and actions of the majority of human beings that, by the time of Noah, God had no option but to stem the tide of wickedness by destroying the earth with a flood (Gen. 6:5-7). And even after a new beginning with the eight (8) persons who were saved, evil reared its ugly head once again and so corrupted the human family that God had to choose a special people through whom He would try to retain some loyalty in a revolted world. Amidst the din and miasma of prevailing evil God saw that Abram loved righteousness. As a result, God called him to separate from his father’s house and go into a land that God would show him, so that he and his descendants (Israel) could enter into a solemn covenant with God - a covenant that would result in all the families of earth being blessed (Gen.12: l-3). God wanted to use Israel - this special peopl "); array_files[37]=new Array(0,1,"http://www.restorationministry.com/books/UTR/html/The_New_Testament_Church.htm","2007-12-11","42K","Upon this Rock - The NT Church","",""," Upon this Rock - The NT Church Chapter 2 The New Testament Church The True Worshippers Now the question is: who are these “true worshippers” - that “nation bringing forth the fruits thereof”? The Apostle Paul tells us in Gal.3:27-29: “‘For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus. And if ye be Christ’s, then are ye Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise.” As many as have been baptized into Christ - them that are Christ’s; these are the ones that the Apostle Paul has identified as Abraham’s seed - Israel, the true Israel of God in the Christian dispensation. These are the ones who have inherited the promises of ancient Israel: as many as have been baptized into Christ - them that are Christ’s. This baptism into Christ is primarily the reception and infilling of the Holy Spirit. Notice the words that Jesus used to his disciples shortly before the day of Pentecost. Jesus told them to wait in Jerusalem “for the promise of the Father” which they had heard from Him, Jesus (Acts 1:4). He went on further to say: “John truly baptized with water; but ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost not many days hence.” verse 5. They should tarry in Jerusalem and a few days hence, they would be baptized with the Holy Spirit. The next chapter (Acts 2) gives us an account of that experience, and the Divine account is that “they were all filled with the Holy Ghost” (Acts 2:4). So, this baptism that they were to receive a few days hence, they actually received on the day of Pentecost and according to the record, in that experience “they were all filled with the Holy Ghost.” The Apostle Paul also expresses a similar idea in Rom. 8:9. He says: “But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have no "); array_files[38]=new Array(0,1,"http://www.restorationministry.com/books/UTR/html/The_Mystery_of_Iniquity.htm","2007-12-11","55K","Upon this Rock - The Mystery of Babylon","",""," Upon this Rock - The Mystery of Babylon Chapter 3 The Mystery Of Iniquity What Is Seen According to the Biblical picture of The Church we see first, the individual in whom Christ dwells through His Holy Spirit. Secondly, we see two (2) or three (3) or any number of these gathered together - this being a particular church; and finally, we see The Church, The Body of Christ; that universal entity that is composed of all them that are Christ’s. In the world today, to what extent is this Biblical picture of The Church reflected? Numerous little groups, sects and denominations issue their claim that they are The True Church, and hence, claiming also that any genuine acceptance of salvation necessarily leads to some level of belonging to, or association with them. In light of the Biblical picture of The Church, wherever then did this idea originate that The Church - The True Church, Gods’s Church is some little organization that a group of individuals come together and establish, for which they lay down their own little rules and regulations, and admit to its membership such as they choose to admit and cast out whom they will? Wherever did that idea originate? This phenomenon is the working of the “mystery of iniquity.” We will see exactly how it began and the progression of its development. Early Manifestation From as early as the days of the apostle Paul, the “mystery of iniquity” had started to work, as is said in 2 Thess. 2:7, that “the mystery of iniquity doth already work.” Individuals like Diotrephes who is spoken of by the apostle John (3 John verses 9,10) had already started to take upon themselves authority and power which would exalt them to be seen by fellow believers as dignitaries to be obeyed in matters of faith. Consider the words of John: “I wrote unto the church: but Diotrephes, who loveth to have the preeminence among them, receiveth us not. Wherefore, if I come, I will remember his deeds which he doeth, prating against us with malicious words: and not "); array_files[39]=new Array(0,1,"http://www.restorationministry.com/books/UTR/html/The_Leaven_of_Babylon.htm","2007-12-11","39K","Upon this Rock - The Leaven of Babylon","",""," Upon this Rock - The Leaven of Babylon Chapter 4 The Leaven of Babylon Moral Darkness So, we get back to our main point of discussion. This power, the Roman Catholic system has taken the focus of attention for a number of centuries. As a result, many generations knew no other church. The fact is that The True Church of God - those individuals who worshipped the Lord in spirit and in accordance with the truth of His Word, were in hiding in desolate corners of the earth due to persecution from that system which presented itself to the world as God’s Church. Quite true to the words of the prophecy, “the woman fled into the wilderness, where she hath a place prepared of God, that they should feed her there.” Rev.12: 6. During this time (mainly during the sixth to seventeenth century), the Bible was forbidden to be read by the ordinary people upon pain of death. The Bible, God’s Word being removed (except as preserved by the faithful ones in hiding), superstition and ignorance flourished and the truth of God was trodden under foot. Daniel the prophet also spoke about this situation when the truth of God would be trodden under foot and men would usurp the place of God. Under the symbol of the “little horn” he describes it as follows: “It waxed great, even to the host of heaven; and it cast down some of the host and of the stars to the ground, and stamped upon them. Yea, he magnified himself even to the prince of the host, and by him the daily sacrifice was taken away, and the place of his sanctuary was cast down. And an host was given him against the daily sacrifice by reason of transgression, and it cast down the truth to the ground; and it practiced, and prospered.” Dan.8: lO-12. The Reformation As foretold by the Word of God, and as recorded in history, the truth of God was trampled under foot. But this state of affairs would not remain indefinitely. The Spirit of God moved upon humble and sincere servants of God who had access to the Scriptures, so that they realized that "); array_files[40]=new Array(0,1,"http://www.restorationministry.com/books/UTR/html/The_Final_Conflict.htm","2007-12-11","73K","Upon this Rock - The Final Conflict","",""," Upon this Rock - The Final Conflict Chapter 7 The Final Conflict Age - Old Aspiration Consistently throughout the Bible there is shown in contradistinction to God’s Church, the operation of a principle of opposition and counterfeit to all that God does. This principle, the “mystery of iniquity” stands at the foundation of that master counterfeit system, Babylon, through which Satan will continue to work until an end is put to it at the second coming of Christ. This principle of the “mystery of iniquity” originated with Satan and represents the ultimate objective of all his devices - exalting himself above God and being worshipped. It was for the very same reason that he had to he thrown out of heaven (Rev. 12:7-9). Consider his presumptuous ambitions and his fall: “How art thou fallen from heaven, 0 Lucifer, son of the morning! how art thou cut down to the ground, which didst weaken the nations! “For thou hast said in thine heart, I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God: I will sit also upon the mount of the congregation, in the sides of the north: I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will be like the most High.” - Isa. 14:l2-14. Having been thrown out of heaven, Satan has made successive attempts to establish an empire on earth based on absolute submission to him. He has tried and failed in his efforts at the tower of Babel; his master kingdom of Babylon under Nebuchadnezzar was likewise overthrown (Isa. 13:19-22; Dan. 5:30,31); and finally we see “MYSTERY, BABYLON THE GREAT” built on the principles of centralization and hierarchism for the very same purpose of bringing the entire world in submission to Satan. Each individual needs to flush out of his mind the idea of considering other human beings as his spiritual superiors whom he is under divine obligation to obey in matters of faith. This is wholly an idea which springs from the “mystery of iniquity.” Any religious group that is established in a manne "); array_files[41]=new Array(0,1,"http://www.restorationministry.com/books/UTR/html/Pertinent_Questions_Answered.htm","2007-12-11","30K","Upon this Rock - Pertinent Q&A","",""," Upon this Rock - Pertinent Q&A Chapter 8 Pertinent Questions Considered In this chapter will be considered a few pertinent questions that individuals might be naturally inclined to ask. Called To What? 1. Question: Since the popular churches have, to a large extent, aligned themselves as tributaries, supporting the development of that Babylonish confederation which stands in opposition to God, what is proposed that God’s people do in terms of worship and assembly, should they decide to disassociate themselves from these various religious bodies? In response to this, it should first be understood that it is not within the province of this writer or any human instrumentality to propose a structure for God’s people to fit into, in terms of spiritual experience, outside of what has been revealed by God. To do that would make one guilty of the very same thing that has been clearly shown to be unscriptural - that is, stepping over the leadership of Christ to prescribe a channel for Christ to work within, under obligation. It has been shown that The Church is a spiritual entity, and hence, individuals are not called to some physical structure. “But ye are come unto mount Sion, and unto the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to an innumerable company of angels,To the general assembly and church of the firstborn, which are written in heaven, and to God the Judge of all, and to the spirits of just men made perfect.” Heb.12:22,23. As human beings, our eyes have become too transfixed on the physical elements of things. We always look to some other human being to direct us and tell us what to do in spiritual matters. There is a need for us to think more in spiritual terms and to seek guidance from Jesus directly. The apostle Paul tells us: “Look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal.” 2 Cor. 4:18. We need to be able to see the invisible as was said "); array_files[42]=new Array(0,1,"http://www.restorationministry.com/books/UTR/html/List_of_References.htm","2007-12-11","7K","Upon this Rock - List of References","",""," Upon this Rock - List of References List of References 1. Advent Review; Hiram Edson, David Arnold, Geo. W. Holt, Samuel W. Rhodes, and James White, 1850 2. Catholic Encyclopedia, 1913 ed. 3. Concise Oxford Dictionary, Fifth edition, 1974 4. Daily Gleaner, Kingston, Jamaica, Feb. 8. 1990 5. D’AUBIGNE, J.H. MERLE. History of the Reformation of the Sixteenth Century, 5 Vols., D. Walther, London, 1841; Oliver and Boyd, Edinburgh, 1846, 1853 6. Doctrinal Catechism, Edward Dunigan and Brothers, New York, 1851 7. DUGGER, A.N. and DODD, C.O. A History of the True Religion, Jerusalem, 1972 8. Encyclopedia Americana, International edition, 1975, Vol. 23 9. Encyclopedia Britannica, 15th ed., 1974 10. ENRIGHT, THOMAS. In: The Industrial American, Harlan, Iowa, Dec. 19, 1889 11. GIBBONS, CARDINAL. In: The Catholic Mirror 12. HEFELE, CHARLES J. A History of the Councils of the Church, Vol 2. 13. HENRY, ERON. Church Government, In: The Sunday Gleaner, Kingston, Jamaica, May 24, 1992. 14. HISLOP, ALEXANDER. The Two Babylons, Loizeaux Brothers, Neptune, New Jersey, 2nd ed, 1959 15. JONES, ALONZO T. The Consecrated Way to Christian Perfection, Pacific Press Publishing Association, 1905. 16. The Reformation Church, 1913 17. Life, Dec., 1989 18. LIGOURI, ST. ALPHONSUS. Dignity and Duties of the Priest, Benziger Brothers, New York, 1889 19. Los Angeles Herald Examiner, September 19, 1987 20. MARTIN, MALACHI. Keys of this Blood, Simon and Schuster, New York, 1990 21. METCALF, HAROLD E. Basic Bible Study Helps, William Collins Sons and Co. Ltd, 1976 22. The Great Prophecies of Daniel and the Revelation, Atlanta, Georgia, 1980. 23. NEWMAN, CARDINAL. Development of Christian Doctrine 24. RAND, HOWARD B. Special Alert number 29, Destiny Editorial Letter Service, May 1982 25. Special Alert number 33, Destiny Editorial Letter Service, September 1982 26. SCHAFF, PHILIP. History of the Christian Church, 5th ed., Vol. 3. 27. Sunday Gleaner, Kingston, Jamaica, October 1, 1989 28. The Associated Press, Dec., 1984 29. The Catholic Record "); array_files[43]=new Array(0,1,"http://www.restorationministry.com/books/UTR/html/Introduction.htm","2007-12-11","8K","Upon this Rock - Introduction","",""," Upon this Rock - Introduction Introduction For what is considered to be THE CHURCH many individuals have endured the most gruesome torture and even death, not accepting deliverance. Others, having a different view of what is THE CHURCH have felt, not only justified, but duty-bound to persecute relentlessly, even to the death, others who are differently persuaded. One of the saddest and most awful occurrences in human history occurred nearly two thousand years ago when the Son of God, Jesus Christ, was brutally and mercilessly murdered by those who professed to be the chosen people of God. Every well-thinking person would do well to seek an explanation for such an awful paradox, lest ignorance and lack of understanding should break down possible safeguards against the repetition of similar anomalies in their own experience. An explanation of such an awful paradox can be found in the phenomenon of misplaced affection; and specifically, love of church above love of truth. On the one hand was Jesus Christ who was the embodiment of truth, righteousness, justice, love and mercy. On the other hand was Caiaphas, the designated spiritual leader of God’s professed people - the chief representative of the religious establishment. In between were the people, many of whom had seen the righteousness, innocence and blameless life of Christ but were also fully persuaded of the legitimacy of the religious institution to which they were committed. What an awful choice for one to be called upon to make. Indeed, it would have been preferable if both were on the same side. But unfortunately, as it was then, so it has been on so many other occasions, not excluding the present, that institutionalized religion is not always aligned with truth. Thus, individuals, at times, are faced with a choice. The decision which prevailed on that fateful day, which culminated in the ignominious death of Christ on Calvary’s cross reveals the little appreciated truth that the majority is not always right. Some persons, in an attempt to avo "); array_files[44]=new Array(0,1,"http://www.restorationministry.com/books/UTR/html/Effects_of_Babylon.htm","2007-12-11","18K","Upon this Rock - Effects of Babylon","",""," Upon this Rock - Effects of Babylon Chapter 5 Effect Of Tradition Misconstrued Interpretation In virtually all situations where a group of individuals either claim to have found some new light or for whatever reason feel the need to be different from other groups of religious practitioners, they invariably end up making the same mistake. Invariably, they end up creating a structure of the very same nature as Babylon, built on the principle of the “mystery of iniquity”, whereby the leadership of God is laid aside and replaced with human authority. With each of these man-made structures claiming to be The Church, it serves to subvert and keep still under foot that truth of what in reality is God’s True Church, The Body of Christ. One of the factors that contribute to the promulgation of this erroneous concept of The Church is the effect of tradition. Many people tend to interpret things on the basis of that to which they are accustomed. The tendency of many individuals, when they read is to interpret words according to its current usage and not in accordance with the usage of the word at the time when it was used. A typical case is the use of the expression “Lord’s Day”. Consider Lord’s Day The term “Lord’s Day” is generally understood as referring to Sunday. Even in modern dictionaries, we look for the entry “Sunday” and we see “Lord’s Day” as one of the synonyms. As a result of this general understanding of the term “Lord’s Day”, when individuals read in the Bible: “I was in the Spirit on the Lord’s day” (Rev. 1:10), they take it to mean that John (the writer) was “in the Spirit” on Sunday. In fact, some individuals even attempt to use that text as a means of establishing the validity of using the term “Lord’s Day” to refer to Sunday. The fact is, however, that the term “Lord’s Day” has come to refer to Sunday subsequent to the usage of the term in the Bible. Therefor "); array_files[45]=new Array(0,1,"http://www.restorationministry.com/books/UTR/html/Divine_Co-ordination_of_the_Body.htm","2007-12-11","21K","Upon this Rock - Divine Co-ordination","",""," Upon this Rock - Divine Co-ordination Chapter 6 Divine Co-ordination of the Body Biblical Analogy Now, individuals may ask: If there is no central authority to Coordinate and give directions in order to guide the activities of the Body of believers, will not the progress of the gospel be impeded and the purity of the gospel corrupted as a result of chaos, due to every individual doing his own thing? In answering this question, the reader is invited to consider first another question: Which human being or group of human beings can claim wisdom and holiness) sufficient to be able to direct the affairs of God in mobilizing and co-ordinating the universal body of believers, so as to fulfill upon this earth the will and mission of a perfect and holy God who tells us that His ways are higher than the ways of human beings as much as; the heavens are higher than the earth (Isa. 55:8,9)?. Only One who has the mind of God can fulfill such a mission. The only One qualified in the entire universe is Jesus Christ Himself. As to how Jesus fulfills this role, we can understand only by considering an analogy that is given in the Bible. The apostle Paul likens The Church, The Body of Christ to the human body (1 Cor. 12:12-27). The closest that human beings can come to understanding how Jesus fulfills this role is by considering the way in which the head controls the body (that is, the human body). The Bible refers to The Church of God as The Body of Christ (Eph. 1:22,23), and Christ Himself as the Head. Consider The Body The head is the seat of central intelligence that controls and directs the actions of every member that is a part of the body. Every member of the body has direct contact with the head (or the brain) - the contact being provided by nerve cells. Hence, the hands are not directed by the feet or the eyes by the ears, or the nose by the mouth. However, despite the fact that each member of the body has a different function, the different functions are coordinated harmoniously by the head in order to fulfill the wil "); array_files[46]=new Array(0,1,"http://www.restorationministry.com/books/UTR/html/Conclusion.htm","2007-12-11","15K","Upon this Rock - Conclusion","",""," Upon this Rock - Conclusion Chapter 9 Conclusion God’s Purpose God’s purpose is still the same - to bring mankind back in harmony with Himself, by forgiving them of all the sins that they have committed and granting them the gift of His Holy Spirit to dwell in their hearts, and so enable them to live holy lives, not continuing in sin. His purpose is to reconcile the entire universe back to Him as one great family and to present to Himself this unified universe - His Church, a glorious church without spot or wrinkle, but holy and without blemish. He makes available to every individual His Holy Spirit to guide him into all truth and to grant him the power to live a holy life, and bring him to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ. As is stated by the apostle Paul, this is the glorious goal that Christ has for the life of each individual. He says: “That Christ might dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye, being rooted and grounded in love,May be able to comprehend with all saints what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height;And to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fullness of God.” Eph. 3:17-19. “Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ.” Eph. 4:13. To receive the gift of the Holy Spirit the requirement is very simple - just as the apostle Peter related to those who gathered to listen on the day of Pentecost: “Repent, and be baptized ... in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.” Acts 2:38. Once there is no idol that is held between us and Christ to hinder His work in us and for us “he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it” unto its glorious finishing (Phil. 1:6). May the Lord help us to yield to Him and break down every idol that we might be moulded by Him. It is His will that we should be a "); array_files[47]=new Array(0,1,"http://www.restorationministry.com/books/steps_c/steps_c9.html","2007-12-11","15K","Steps to Christ chapter 9","",""," Steps to Christ chapter 9 Steps to Christ chapter 9 Last chapter: chapter 8 Page 77 The Work and the Life God is the source of life and light and joy to the universe. Like rays of light from the sun, like the streams of water bursting from a living spring, blessings flow out from Him to all His creatures. And wherever the life of God is in the hearts of men, it will flow out to others in love and blessing. Our Saviours joy was in the uplifting and redemption of fallen men. For this He counted not His life dear unto Himself, but endured the cross, despising the shame. So angels are ever engaged in working for the happiness of others. This is their joy. That which selfish hearts would regard as humiliating service, ministering to those who are wretched and in every way inferior in character and rank, is the work of sinless angels. The spirit of Christs self-sacrificing love is the spirit that pervades heaven and is the very essence of its bliss. This is the spirit that Christs followers will possess, the work that they will do. When the love of Christ is enshrined in the heart, like sweet fragrance it cannot be hidden. Its holy influence will be felt by all with whom we come in contact. The spirit of Christ in the heart is like a spring in the desert, flowing to refresh all and making those who are ready to perish, eager to drink of the water of life. Love to Jesus will be manifested in a desire to work as He worked for the blessing and uplifting of Page 78 humanity. It will lead to love, tenderness, and sympathy toward all the creatures of our heavenly Fathers care. The Saviours life on earth was not a life of ease and devotion to Himself, but He toiled with persistent, earnest, untiring effort for the salvation of lost mankind. From the manger to Calvary He followed the path of self-denial and sought not to be released from arduous tasks, painful travels and exhausting care and labor. He said, The Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give His life a ransom for many. Matthew 20:28. "); array_files[48]=new Array(0,1,"http://www.restorationministry.com/books/steps_c/steps_c8.html","2007-12-11","19K","Steps to Christ chapter 8","",""," Steps to Christ chapter 8 Steps to Christ chapter 8 Last chapter: chapter 7 Page 67 Growing Up Into Christ The change of heart by which we become children of God is in the Bible spoken of as birth. Again, it is compared to the germination of the good seed sown by the husbandman. In like manner those who are just converted to Christ are, as new-born babes, to grow up to the stature of men and women in Christ Jesus. 1 Peter 2:2; Ephesians 4:15. Or like the good seed sown in the field, they are to grow up and bring forth fruit. Isaiah says that they shall be called trees of righteousness, the planting of the Lord, that He might be glorified. Isaiah 61:3. So from natural life, illustrations are drawn, to help us better to understand the mysterious truths of spiritual life. Not all the wisdom and skill of man can produce life in the smallest object in nature. It is only through the life which God Himself has imparted, that either plant or animal can live. So it is only through the life from God that spiritual life is begotten in the hearts of men. Unless a man is born from above, he cannot become a partaker of the life which Christ came to give. John 3:3, margin. As with life, so it is with growth. It is God who brings the bud to bloom and the flower to fruit. It is by His power that the seed develops, first the blade, then the ear, after that the full corn in the ear. Mark 4:28. And the prophet Hosea says of Israel, that he shall grow as the lily. They shall revive as the corn, and grow as the vine. Hosea 14:5, 7. And Jesus bids us consider the lilies how Page 68 they grow. Luke 12:27. The plants and flowers grow not by their own care or anxiety or effort, but by receiving that which God has furnished to minister to their life. The child cannot, by any anxiety or power of its own, add to its stature. No more can you, by anxiety or effort of yourself, secure spiritual growth. The plant, the child, grows by receiving from its surroundings that which ministers to its life --air, sunshine, and food. What these gifts o "); array_files[49]=new Array(0,1,"http://www.restorationministry.com/books/steps_c/steps_c7.html","2007-12-11","18K","Steps to Christ chapter 7","",""," Steps to Christ chapter 7 Steps to Christ chapter 7 Last chapter: chapter 6 Page 57 The Test of Discipleship If any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new. 2 Corinthians 5:17. A person may not be able to tell the exact time or place, or trace all the chain of circumstances in the process of conversion; but this does not prove him to be unconverted. Christ said to Nicodemus, The wind bloweth where it listeth, and thou hearest the sound thereof, but canst not tell whence it cometh, and whither it goeth: so is everyone that is born of the Spirit. John 3:8. Like the wind, which is invisible, yet the effects of which are plainly seen and felt, is the Spirit of God in its work upon the human heart. That regenerating power, which no human eye can see, begets a new life in the soul; it creates a new being in the image of God. While the work of the Spirit is silent and imperceptible, its effects are manifest. If the heart has been renewed by the Spirit of God, the life will bear witness to the fact. While we cannot do anything to change our hearts or to bring ourselves into harmony with God; while we must not trust at all to ourselves or our good works, our lives will reveal whether the grace of God is dwelling within us. A change will be seen in the character, the habits, the pursuits. The contrast will be clear and decided between what they have been and what they are. The character is revealed, not Page 58 by occasional good deeds and occasional misdeeds, but by the tendency of the habitual words and acts. It is true that there may be an outward correctness of deportment without the renewing power of Christ. The love of influence and the desire for the esteem of others may produce a well-ordered life. Self-respect may lead us to avoid the appearance of evil. A selfish heart may perform generous actions. By what means, then, shall we determine whose side we are on? Who has the heart? With whom are our thoughts? Of whom do we love to converse? Who has our "); array_files[50]=new Array(0,1,"http://www.restorationministry.com/books/steps_c/steps_c6.html","2007-12-11","15K","Steps to Christ chapter 6","",""," Steps to Christ chapter 6 Steps to Christ chapter 6 Last chapter: chapter 5 Page 49 Faith and Acceptance As your conscience has been quickened by the Holy Spirit, you have seen something of the evil of sin, of its power, its guilt, its woe; and you look upon it with abhorrence. You feel that sin has separated you from God, that you are in bondage to the power of evil. The more you struggle to escape, the more you realize your helplessness. Your motives are impure; your heart is unclean. You see that your life has been filled with selfishness and sin. You long to be forgiven, to be cleansed, to be set free. Harmony with God, likeness to Him--what can you do to obtain it? It is peace that you need--Heavens forgiveness and peace and love in the soul. Money cannot buy it, intellect cannot procure it, wisdom cannot attain to it; you can never hope, by your own efforts, to secure it. But God offers it to you as a gift, without money and without price. Isaiah 55:1. It is yours if you will but reach out your hand and grasp it. The Lord says, Though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool. Isaiah 1:18. A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you. Ezekiel 36:26. You have confessed your sins, and in heart put them away. You have resolved to give yourself to God. Now go to Him, and ask that He will wash away your sins and give you a new heart. Then Page 50 believe that He does this because He has promised. This is the lesson which Jesus taught while He was on earth, that the gift which God promises us, we must believe we do receive, and it is ours. Jesus healed the people of their diseases when they had faith in His power; He helped them in the things which they could see, thus inspiring them with confidence in Him concerning things which they could not see--leading them to believe in His power to forgive sins. This He plainly stated in the healing of the man sick with palsy: That ye may know that the Son of man hath power "); array_files[51]=new Array(0,1,"http://www.restorationministry.com/books/steps_c/steps_c5.html","2007-12-11","13K","Steps to Christ chapter 5","",""," Steps to Christ chapter 5 Steps to Christ chapter 5 Last chapter: chapter 4 Page 43 Consecration Gods promise is, Ye shall seek Me, and find Me, when ye shall search for Me with all your heart. Jeremiah 29:13. The whole heart must be yielded to God, or the change can never be wrought in us by which we are to be restored to His likeness. By nature we are alienated from God. The Holy Spirit describes our condition in such words as these: Dead in trespasses and sins; the whole head is sick, and the whole heart faint; no soundness in it. We are held fast in the snare of Satan, taken captive by him at his will. Ephesians 2:1; Isaiah 1:5, 6; 2 Timothy 2:26. God desires to heal us, to set us free. But since this requires an entire transformation, a renewing of our whole nature, we must yield ourselves wholly to Him. The warfare against self is the greatest battle that was ever fought. The yielding of self, surrendering all to the will of God, requires a struggle; but the soul must submit to God before it can be renewed in holiness. The government of God is not, as Satan would make it appear, founded upon a blind submission, an unreasoning control. It appeals to the intellect and the conscience. Come now, and let us reason together is the Creators invitation to the beings He has made. Isaiah 1:18. God does not force the will of His creatures. He cannot accept an homage that is not willingly and intelligently given. A mere forced submission would prevent all real development of mind Page 44 or character; it would make man a mere automaton. Such is not the purpose of the Creator. He desires that man, the crowning work of His creative power, shall reach the highest possible development. He sets before us the height of blessing to which He desires to bring us through His grace. He invites us to give ourselves to Him, that He may work His will in us. It remains for us to choose whether we will be set free from the bondage of sin, to share the glorious liberty of the sons of God. In giving ourselves to God, we must necessar "); array_files[52]=new Array(0,1,"http://www.restorationministry.com/books/steps_c/steps_c4.html","2007-12-11","10K","Steps to Christ chapter 4","",""," Steps to Christ chapter 4 Steps to Christ chapter 4 Last chapter: chapter 3 Page 37 Confession He that covereth his sins shall not prosper: but whoso confesseth and forsaketh them shall have mercy. Proverbs 28:13. The conditions of obtaining mercy of God are simple and just and reasonable. The Lord does not require us to do some grievous thing in order that we may have the forgiveness of sin. We need not make long and wearisome pilgrimages, or perform painful penances, to commend our souls to the God of heaven or to expiate our transgression; but he that confesseth and forsaketh his sin shall have mercy. The apostle says, Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. James 5:16. Confess your sins to God, who only can forgive them, and your faults to one another. If you have given offense to your friend or neighbor, you are to acknowledge your wrong, and it is his duty freely to forgive you. Then you are to seek the forgiveness of God, because the brother you have wounded is the property of God, and in injuring him you sinned against his Creator and Redeemer. The case is brought before the only true Mediator, our great High Priest, who was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin, and who is touched with the feeling of our infirmities, and is able to cleanse from every stain of iniquity. Hebrews 4:15. Those who have not humbled their souls before God in acknowledging their guilt, have not yet Page 38 fulfilled the first condition of acceptance. If we have not experienced that repentance which is not to be repented of, and have not with true humiliation of soul and brokenness of spirit confessed our sins, abhorring our iniquity, we have never truly sought for the forgiveness of sin; and if we have never sought, we have never found the peace of God. The only reason why we do not have remission of sins that are past is that we are not willing to humble our hearts and comply with the conditions of the word of truth. Explicit instruction is given concerning this ma "); array_files[53]=new Array(0,1,"http://www.restorationministry.com/books/steps_c/steps_c3.html","2007-12-11","29K","Steps to Christ chapter 3","",""," Steps to Christ chapter 3 Steps to Christ chapter 3 Last chapter: chapter 2 Page 23 Repentance How shall a man be just with God? How shall the sinner be made righteous? It is only through Christ that we can be brought into harmony with God, with holiness; but how are we to come to Christ? Many are asking the same question as did the multitude on the Day of Pentecost, when, convicted of sin, they cried out, What shall we do? The first word of Peters answer was, Repent. Acts 2:37, 38. At another time, shortly after, he said, Repent, . . . and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out. Acts 3:19. Repentance includes sorrow for sin and a turning away from it. We shall not renounce sin unless we see its sinfulness; until we turn away from it in heart, there will be no real change in the life. There are many who fail to understand the true nature of repentance. Multitudes sorrow that they have sinned and even make an outward reformation because they fear that their wrongdoing will bring suffering upon themselves. But this is not repentance in the Bible sense. They lament the suffering rather than the sin. Such was the grief of Esau when he saw that the birthright was lost to him forever. Balaam, terrified by the angel standing in his pathway with drawn sword, acknowledged his guilt lest he should lose his life; but there was no genuine repentance for sin, no conversion of purpose, no abhorrence of evil. Judas Iscariot, after betraying his Page 24 Lord, exclaimed, I have sinned in that I have betrayed the innocent blood. Matthew 27:4. The confession was forced from his guilty soul by an awful sense of condemnation and a fearful looking for of judgment. The consequences that were to result to him filled him with terror, but there was no deep, heartbreaking grief in his soul, that he had betrayed the spotless Son of God and denied the Holy One of Israel. Pharaoh, when suffering under the judgments of God, acknowledged his sin in order to escape further punishment, but returned to his defiance of Heaven as soon as "); array_files[54]=new Array(0,1,"http://www.restorationministry.com/books/steps_c/steps_c2.html","2007-12-11","12K","Steps to Christ chapter 2","",""," Steps to Christ chapter 2 Steps to Christ chapter 2 Last chapter: chapter 1 Page 17 The Sinners Need of Christ Man was originally endowed with noble powers and a well-balanced mind. He was perfect in his being, and in harmony with God. His thoughts were pure, his aims holy. But through disobedience, his powers were perverted, and selfishness took the place of love. His nature became so weakened through transgression that it was impossible for him, in his own strength, to resist the power of evil. He was made captive by Satan, and would have remained so forever had not God specially interposed. It was the tempters purpose to thwart the divine plan in mans creation, and fill the earth with woe and desolation. And he would point to all this evil as the result of Gods work in creating man. In his sinless state, man held joyful communion with Him in whom are hid all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. Colossians 2:3. But after his sin, he could no longer find joy in holiness, and he sought to hide from the presence of God. Such is still the condition of the unrenewed heart. It is not in harmony with God, and finds no joy in communion with Him. The sinner could not be happy in Gods presence; he would shrink from the companionship of holy beings. Could he be permitted to enter heaven, it would have no joy for him. The spirit of unselfish love that reigns there --every heart responding to the heart of Infinite Love --would touch no answering chord in his soul. His thoughts, his interests, his motives, would be alien to Page 18 those that actuate the sinless dwellers there. He would be a discordant note in the melody of heaven. Heaven would be to him a place of torture; he would long to be hidden from Him who is its light, and the center of its joy. It is no arbitrary decree on the part of God that excludes the wicked from heaven; they are shut out by their own unfitness for its companionship. The glory of God would be to them a consuming fire. They would welcome destruction, that they might be hidden from the face "); array_files[55]=new Array(0,1,"http://www.restorationministry.com/books/steps_c/steps_c13.html","2007-12-11","25K","Steps to Christ chapter 13","",""," Steps to Christ chapter 13 Steps to Christ chapter 13 Last chapter: chapter 12 Page 115 Rejoicing in the Lord The children of God are called to be representatives of Christ, showing forth the goodness and mercy of the Lord. As Jesus has revealed to us the true character of the Father, so we are to reveal Christ to a world that does not know His tender, pitying love. As Thou hast sent Me into the world, said Jesus, even so have I also sent them into the world. I in them, and Thou in Me; . . . that the world may know that Thou hast sent Me. John 17: 18, 23. The apostle Paul says to the disciples of Jesus, Ye are manifestly declared to be the epistle of Christ, known and read of all men. 2 Corinthians 3:3, 2. In every one of His children, Jesus sends a letter to the world. If you are Christs follower, He sends in you a letter to the family, the village, the street, where you live. Jesus, dwelling in you, desires to speak to the hearts of those who are not acquainted with Him. Perhaps they do not read the Bible, or do not hear the voice that speaks to them in its pages; they do not see the love of God through His works. But if you are a true representative of Jesus, it may be that through you they will be led to understand something of His goodness and be won to love and serve Him. Christians are set as light bearers on the way to heaven. They are to reflect to the world the light shining upon them from Christ. Their life and character should be such that through them others will get a right conception of Christ and of His service. Page 116 If we do represent Christ, we shall make His service appear attractive, as it really is. Christians who gather up gloom and sadness to their souls, and murmur and complain, are giving to others a false representation of God and the Christian life. They give the impression that God is not pleased to have His children happy, and in this they bear false witness against our heavenly Father. Satan is exultant when he can lead the children of God into unbelief and despondency. He del "); array_files[56]=new Array(0,1,"http://www.restorationministry.com/books/steps_c/steps_c12.html","2007-12-11","19K","Steps to Christ chapter 12","",""," Steps to Christ chapter 12 Steps to Christ chapter 12 Last chapter: chapter 11 Page 105 What to Do with Doubt Many, especially those who are young in the Christian life, are at times troubled with the suggestions of skepticism. There are in the Bible many things which they cannot explain, or even understand, and Satan employs these to shake their faith in the Scriptures as a revelation from God. They ask, How shall I know the right way? If the Bible is indeed the word of God, how can I be freed from these doubts and perplexities? God never asks us to believe, without giving sufficient evidence upon which to base our faith. His existence, His character, the truthfulness of His word, are all established by testimony that appeals to our reason; and this testimony is abundant. Yet God has never removed the possibility of doubt. Our faith must rest upon evidence, not demonstration. Those who wish to doubt will have opportunity; while those who really desire to know the truth will find plenty of evidence on which to rest their faith. It is impossible for finite minds fully to comprehend the character or the works of the Infinite One. To the keenest intellect, the most highly educated mind, that holy Being must ever remain clothed in mystery. Canst thou by searching find out God? canst thou find out the Almighty unto perfection? It is as high as heaven; what canst thou do? deeper than hell; what canst thou know? Job 11:7, 8. Page 106 The apostle Paul exclaims, O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! how unsearchable are His judgments, and His ways past finding out! Romans 11:33. But though clouds and darkness are round about Him, righteousness and judgment are the foundation of His throne. Psalm 97:2, R.V. We can so far comprehend His dealings with us, and the motives by which He is actuated, that we may discern boundless love and mercy united to infinite power. We can understand as much of His purposes as it is for our good to know; and beyond this we must still trust the hand that is omni "); array_files[57]=new Array(0,1,"http://www.restorationministry.com/books/steps_c/steps_c11.html","2007-12-11","24K","Steps to Christ chapter 11","",""," Steps to Christ chapter 11 Steps to Christ chapter 11 Last chapter: chapter 10 Page 93 The Privilege of Prayer Through nature and revelation, through His providence, and by the influence of His Spirit, God speaks to us. But these are not enough; we need also to pour out our hearts to Him. In order to have spiritual life and energy, we must have actual intercourse with our heavenly Father. Our minds may be drawn out toward Him; we may meditate upon His works, His mercies, His blessings; but this is not, in the fullest sense, communing with Him. In order to commune with God, we must have something to say to Him concerning our actual life. Prayer is the opening of the heart to God as to a friend. Not that it is necessary in order to make known to God what we are, but in order to enable us to receive Him. Prayer does not bring God down to us, but brings us up to Him. When Jesus was upon the earth, He taught His disciples how to pray. He directed them to present their daily needs before God, and to cast all their care upon Him. And the assurance He gave them that their petitions should be heard, is assurance also to us. Jesus Himself, while He dwelt among men, was often in prayer. Our Saviour identified Himself with our needs and weakness, in that He became a suppliant, a petitioner, seeking from His Father fresh supplies of strength, that He might come forth braced for duty and trial. He is our example in all things. He is a brother in our infirmities, in all points tempted like as we are; but as the sinless one His Page 94 nature recoiled from evil; He endured struggles and torture of soul in a world of sin. His humanity made prayer a necessity and a privilege. He found comfort and joy in communion with His Father. And if the Saviour of men, the Son of God, felt the need of prayer, how much more should feeble, sinful mortals feel the necessity of fervent, constant prayer. Our heavenly Father waits to bestow upon us the fullness of His blessing. It is our privilege to drink largely at the fountain of boundless lov "); array_files[58]=new Array(0,1,"http://www.restorationministry.com/books/steps_c/steps_c10.html","2007-12-11","15K","Steps to Christ chapter 10","",""," Steps to Christ chapter 10 Steps to Christ chapter 10 Last chapter: chapter 9 Page 85 A Knowledge of God Many are the ways in which God is seeking to make Himself known to us and bring us into communion with Him. Nature speaks to our senses without ceasing. The open heart will be impressed with the love and glory of God as revealed through the works of His hands. The listening ear can hear and understand the communications of God through the things of nature. The green fields, the lofty trees, the buds and flowers, the passing cloud, the falling rain, the babbling brook, the glories of the heavens, speak to our hearts, and invite us to become acquainted with Him who made them all. Our Saviour bound up His precious lessons with the things of nature. The trees, the birds, the flowers of the valleys, the hills, the lakes, and the beautiful heavens, as well as the incidents and surroundings of daily life, were all linked with the words of truth, that His lessons might thus be often recalled to mind, even amid the busy cares of mans life of toil. God would have His children appreciate His works and delight in the simple, quiet beauty with which He has adorned our earthly home. He is a lover of the beautiful, and above all that is outwardly attractive He loves beauty of character; He would have us cultivate purity and simplicity, the quiet graces of the flowers. If we will but listen, Gods created works will teach us precious lessons of obedience and trust. Page 86 From the stars that in their trackless courses through space follow from age to age their appointed path, down to the minutest atom, the things of nature obey the Creators will. And God cares for everything and sustains everything that He has created. He who upholds the unnumbered worlds throughout immensity, at the same time cares for the wants of the little brown sparrow that sings its humble song without fear. When men go forth to their daily toil, as when they engage in prayer; when they lie down at night, and when they rise in the morning; when the r "); array_files[59]=new Array(0,1,"http://www.restorationministry.com/books/steps_c/steps_c1.html","2007-12-11","15K","Steps to Christ chapter 1","",""," Steps to Christ chapter 1 Steps to Christ chapter 1 Page 9 Gods Love for Man Nature and revelation alike testify of Gods love. Our Father in heaven is the source of life, of wisdom, and of joy. Look at the wonderful and beautiful things of nature. Think of their marvelous adaptation to the needs and happiness, not only of man, but of all living creatures. The sunshine and the rain, that gladden and refresh the earth, the hills and seas and plains, all speak to us of the Creators love. It is God who supplies the daily needs of all His creatures. In the beautiful words of the psalmist-- The eyes of all wait upon Thee; And Thou givest them their meat in due season. Thou openest Thine hand, And satisfiest the desire of every living thing. - Psalm 145:15, 16. God made man perfectly holy and happy; and the fair earth, as it came from the Creators hand, bore no blight of decay or shadow of the curse. It is transgression of Gods law--the law of love--that has brought woe and death. Yet even amid the suffering that results from sin, Gods love is revealed. It is written that God cursed the ground for mans sake. Genesis 3:17. The thorn and the thistle--the difficulties and trials that make his life one of toil and care--were appointed for his good as a part of the training needful in Gods plan for his uplifting from the ruin and degradation that sin has wrought. The Page 10 world, though fallen, is not all sorrow and misery. In nature itself are messages of hope and comfort. There are flowers upon the thistles, and the thorns are covered with roses. God is love is written upon every opening bud, upon every spire of springing grass. The lovely birds making the air vocal with their happy songs, the delicately tinted flowers in their perfection perfuming the air, the lofty trees of the forest with their rich foliage of living green -- all testify to the tender, fatherly care of our God and to His desire to make His children happy. The word of God reveals His character. He Himself has declared His infinite love and pity. Wh "); array_files[60]=new Array(0,1,"http://www.restorationministry.com/books/steps_c/steps_c.htm","2007-12-11","4K","Steps to Christ Frame Set","",""," Steps to Christ Frame Set frameset cols=24%,76 frame src=frconten.htm name=contents marginwidth=1 marginheight=1 frame src=frmain.htm name=main marginwidth=1 marginheight=1 noframes RM Home Page Table of Contents Gods Love for Man The Sinners Need of Christ Repentance Confession Consecration Faith and Acceptance The Test of Discipleship Growing up Into Christ The Work and the Life A Knowledge of God The Privilege of Prayer What to Do With Doubt Rejoicing in the Lord Send mail to info@restorationministry.com with questions or com "); array_files[61]=new Array(0,1,"http://www.restorationministry.com/books/steps_c/frmain.htm","2007-12-11","1K","Main Frame in Steps to Christ Frame Set","",""," Main Frame in Steps to Christ Frame Set Steps to Christ From the forward: The title of the book tells its mission. It points the reader to Jesus Christ as the only one who is able to meet the needs of the soul. It directs the feet of the doubting and halting to the pathway of peace. It leads the seeker after righteousness and wholeness of character, step by step, along the way of christian living, to that experience where he can know the fullness of blessing which is found in the complete surrender of self. It reveals to him the secret of victory as it unfolds in simplicity the saving grace and the keeping power of the Great Friend of all mankind. Send mail to info@restorationministry.com with questions or com "); array_files[62]=new Array(0,1,"http://www.restorationministry.com/books/steps_c/frconten.htm","2007-12-11","2K","Table of Contents Frame in Steps to Christ Frame Set","",""," Table of Contents Frame in Steps to Christ Frame Set Table of Contents Gods Love for Man The Sinners Need of Christ Repentance Confession Consecration Faith and Acceptance The Test of Discipleship Growing up Into Christ The Work and the Life A Knowledge of God The Privilege of Prayer What to Do With Doubt Rejoicing in the Lord Send mail to info@restorationministry.com with questions or com "); array_files[63]=new Array(0,1,"http://www.restorationministry.com/books/wdtpb/W_W_Prescott.htm","2007-12-06","2K","W. W. Prescott","",""," W. W. Prescott W. W. Prescott 1855-1944 As Christ was twice born, once in eternity, the only begotten of the Father, and again here in the flesh, thus uniting the divine with the human in that second birth, so we, who have been born once already in the flesh, are to have the second birth, being born again of the Spirit, in order that our experience may be the same, the human and the divine being joined in a life union. (W. W. Prescott, April 14, 1896, Review & Herald, page 232) Send mail to info@restorationministry.com with questions or com "); array_files[64]=new Array(0,1,"http://www.restorationministry.com/books/wdtpb/wdtpb_VpToc.htm","2007-12-06","14K","Linked TOC","",""," Linked TOC Table of Contents Title Page Ellen G. White Our Periodicals Early Experiences Salvation in the Truth Protest against Removing Landmarks Vindication of Our Message J. H. Waggoner Doctrine of a Trinity Subversive of the Atonement Joseph Bates W. W. Prescott Merritt E. Cornell Who are Mormons? Scriptural Investigation James White Catholic Reasons for Keeping Sunday The Position of the Remnant A. T. Jones A. J. Dennis John Matteson J. M. Stephenson Uriah Smith God The Father, And His Son Jesus Christ J. N. Andrews Melchisedec R. F. Cottrell D. W. Hull S. N. Haskell J. N. Loughborough Questions for Bro. Loughborough E. J. Waggoner Is Christ God? Christ As Creator Is Christ a Created Being? M. C. Wilcox G. W. Amadon How Shall We Explain it? Miscellaneous Writers The Sunday God Heathen and Orthodox Christian Importance of a Correct System of Belief Protestants not Guided by Scripture Proved by Butler’s Catechism Fundamentals Beliefs of SDAs in 1889, 1931, and 1981 Yearbooks The Seventh-day Adventist Church Hymnal The 1909 and 1941 Version of Holy, Holy, Holy The 1985 Version of Holy, Holy, Holy Position of SDA Pioneers on the Trinity Letter by J. S. Washburn The Truth About God Send mail to info@restorationministry.com with questions or com "); array_files[65]=new Array(0,1,"http://www.restorationministry.com/books/wdtpb/wdtpb_VpLof.htm","2007-12-06","3K","List of Figures","",""," List of Figures Table of Contents List of Chapters List of Figures What did the Pioneers Believe Ellen G. White J. H. Waggoner Joseph Bates James White A. T. Jones Uriah Smith J. N. Andrews J. N. Loughborough E. J. Waggoner SDA Church Hymnal Holy, Holy, Holy 1941 edition Holy, Holy, Holy 1985 edition Send mail to info@restorationministry.com with questions or com "); array_files[66]=new Array(0,1,"http://www.restorationministry.com/books/wdtpb/wdtpb.htm","2007-12-06","7K","Did They Believe","",""," Did They Believe frameset cols=25%,75 frame SRC=wdtpb_VpToc.htm NAME=_LeftBanner FRAMEBORDER=YES frame SRC=Title_Page.htm NAME=_Main FRAMEBORDER=YES noframes Table of Contents Figures Title Page Table of Contents Ellen G White J H Waggoner Joseph Bates W W Prescott Merritt E Cornell JamesWhite A T Jones A J Dennis John Matteson J M Stephenson Uriah Smith J N Andrews R F Cottrell D W Hull S N Haskell J N Loughborough E G Waggoner M C Wilcox G W Amadon Misc Writers The SDA Church Hymnal SDA Pioneers on the Trinity J S Washburn The Truth About God Send mail to info@restorationministry.com with questions or com "); array_files[67]=new Array(0,1,"http://www.restorationministry.com/books/wdtpb/Uriah_Smith.htm","2007-12-06","34K","Uriah Smith","",""," Uriah Smith Uriah Smith: 1832 - 1903 In 1Cor. 15, I find that it is not the natural man that hath immortality; yet Paul assures the Romans that by patient continuance in well doing all could obtain immortality and eternal life. The doctrine called the trinity, claiming that God is without form or parts; that the Father, Son and Holy Ghost, the three are one person, is another. Could God be without form or parts when he “spoke unto Moses face to face as a man speaketh unto a friend?” [Ex. 33:11] or when the Lord said unto him, Thou canst not see my face; for there shall no man see me and live? And it shall come to pass, while my glory passeth by, that I will put thee in a cleft of the rock, and will cover thee with my hand while I pass by; and I will take away my hand and thou shalt see my back parts; but my face shall not be seen. Ex. 33:20,22,23. Christ is the express image of his Father’s person. Heb. 1:3. (Uriah Smith, July 10, 1856, Review & Herald, vol. 8, no. 11, page 87, par. 33) To the Lamb, equally with the Father who sits upon the throne, praise is ascribed in this song of adoration. Commentators, with great unanimity, have seized upon this as proof that Christ must be coeval with the Father; for otherwise, say they, here would be worship paid to the creature which belongs only to the Creator. But this does not seem to be a necessary conclusion. The Scriptures nowhere speak of Christ as a created being, but on the contrary plainly state that he was begotten of the Father. (See remarks on Rev. 3:14, where it is shown that Christ is not a created being.) But while as the Son he does not possess a co-eternity of past existence with the Father, the beginning of his existence, as the begotten of the Father, antedates the entire work of creation, in relation to which he stands as joint creator with God. John 1:3; Heb. 1:2. Could not the Father ordain that to such a being worship should be rendered equally with himself, without its being idolatry on the part of the worshiper? He has raise "); array_files[68]=new Array(0,1,"http://www.restorationministry.com/books/wdtpb/Title_Page.htm","2007-12-06","5K","Title Page","",""," Title Page “As fundamental errors, we might class with this counterfeit sabbath other errors which Protestants have brought away from the Catholic church, such as sprinkling for baptism, the trinity, the consciousness of the dead and eternal life in misery. The mass who have held these fundamental errors, have doubtless done it ignorantly; but can it be supposed that the church of Christ will carry along with her these errors till the judgment scenes burst upon the world? We think not.” (James White, September 12, 1854, Review & Herald, Vol. 6, No. 5, page 36, par. 8) This book is a compilation of quotes from Adventist Pioneers which reflect the unanimous position of the early Adventist Church. Many are unaware of the teachings of the Adventist pioneers. After reading this book, you will see for yourself what they believed. Has the Adventist Church, as a whole, shifted away from the truth revealed in the Scriptures, and taken up doctrines of the Catholics, which are held by all of her daughters, the apostate Protestant churches. May God help us to “earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints. For there are certain men crept in unawares,… denying the only Lord God [the Father], and our Lord Jesus Christ.” (Jude 4,5) “Who is a liar but he that denieth that Jesus is the Christ? He is antichrist, that denieth the Father and the Son.” (1John 2:22) “Most of the founders of Seventh-day Adventism would not be able to join the church today if they had to subscribe to the denomination’s Fundamental Beliefs. “More specifically, most would not be able to agree to belief number 2, which deals with the doctrine of the Trinity.…” (Famous author and Andrews University seminary professor, George Knight, Ministry Magazine, October, 1993, page 10) This book is almost exclusively quotations, and therefore quotation marks are not used. My own writing stands out in a different type style. Here is an example! Italicized, underlined, and bold "); array_files[69]=new Array(0,1,"http://www.restorationministry.com/books/wdtpb/The_Truth_About_God.htm","2007-12-06","44K","The Truth About God","",""," The Truth About God The Truth About God “Thou shalt have no other gods before me.” (Exodus 20:3) Who is speaking here? The Lord (Jehovah or Yahweh) thy God said “Thou shalt have no other gods before me.” “The first of all the commandments is, Hear, O Israel; The Lord our God is one Lord: And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength: this is the first commandment.” (Mark 12:29,30) Who are we required to love with all our heart, all our soul, and all our mind? If we are required to love the Lord our God with all our heart, then we will have to understand who He is. It is very difficult to love someone whom you do not know; and impossible to love them with all your heart. If we want to love God with all our heart, then we must first learn to know and appreciate His character. This can only be done by accepting the testimony from the Scriptures on this subject. We are instructed to follow Christ as our example. “He that saith he abideth in Him ought himself also so to walk, even as He walked.” (1John 2:6) Who did Christ love with all His heart, and worship? His Father. “Ye worship ye know not what: we know what we worship: for salvation is of the Jews. But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship Him.” (John 4:22,23) Christ said that He worshipped the Father. “Jesus saith unto her, Touch me not; for I am not yet ascended to my Father: but go to my brethren, and say unto them, I ascend unto my Father, and your Father; and to my God, and your God.” (John 20:17) “Him that overcometh will I make a pillar in the temple of my God, and he shall go no more out: and I will write upon him the name of my God, and the name of the city of my God, which is new Jerusalem, which cometh down out of heaven from my God: and I will write upon him my new name.” (Revelation 3:12) The "); array_files[70]=new Array(0,1,"http://www.restorationministry.com/books/wdtpb/The_SDA_Church_Hymnal.htm","2007-12-06","4K","The SDA Church Hymnal","",""," The SDA Church Hymnal The Seventh-day Adventist Church Hymnal There is an interesting story behind song number 73, Holy, Holy, Holy, found in the Seventh-day Adventist Church Hymnal. This song is found in the 1909 Seventh-day Adventist Hymnal, Christ in Song, and also in both the 1941 Church Hymnal (pictured above, right), and the 1985 Seventh-day Adventist Hymnal of today. This song was originally written in 1826 by Reginald Heber. In its original form it was a trinitarian song, which read as follows: “God in three persons, blessed Trinity!” The 1909 and the 1941 Adventist version read as follows: “God over all who rules eternity!” The 1909 and 1941 Version of Holy, Holy, Holy This song was purposely changed into a non-trinitarian song by Seventh-day Adventists, reflecting their views on the Trinity at the time of the change. In the 1985 Adventist Hymnal this song was changed back to its original, reflecting the views of the Adventist Church at this time. Please notice the changes at the end of the first stanza in the song found in the 1985 version. The 1985 Version of Holy, Holy, Holy The Adventist church was Non-Trinitarian, and has changed into a Trinitarian church. Send mail to info@restorationministry.com with questions or com "); array_files[71]=new Array(0,1,"http://www.restorationministry.com/books/wdtpb/Table_of_Contents.htm","2007-12-06","7K","Table of Contents ","",""," Table of Contents Table of Contents Title Page Ellen G. White Our Periodicals Early Experiences Salvation in the Truth Protest against Removing Landmarks Vindication of Our Message Joseph H. Waggoner Doctrine of a Trinity Subversive of the Atonement Joseph Bates W. W. Prescott Merritt E. Cornell Who are Mormons? Scriptural Investigation James Springer White Catholic Reasons for Keeping Sunday The Position of the Remnant Alonzo T. Jones A. J. Dennis John Matteson J.M. Stephenson Uriah Smith God The Father, And His Son Jesus Christ J.N. Andrews Melchisedec R. F. Cottrell D.W. Hull Bible Doctrine of the Divinity of Christ S. N. Haskell J.N. Loughborough Questions for Bro. Loughborough E.J. Waggoner Is Christ God? Christ As Creator Is Christ a Created Being? M. C. Wilcox G.W. Amadon How Shall We Explain it? Miscellaneous Writers The Sunday God Heathen and Orthodox Christian Importance of a Correct System of Belief Protestants not Guided by Scripture Proved by Butler’s Catechism Fundamentals Beliefs of SDAs in 1889, 1931, and 1981 Yearbooks The Seventh-day Adventist Church Hymnal The 1909 and 1941 Version of Holy, Holy, Holy The 1985 Version of Holy, Holy, Holy Position of SDA Pioneers on the Trinity Letter by J. S. Washburn The Truth About God Send mail to info@restorationministry.com with questions or com "); array_files[72]=new Array(0,1,"http://www.restorationministry.com/books/wdtpb/S_N_Haskell.htm","2007-12-06","4K","S. N. Haskell","",""," S. N. Haskell S. N. Haskell 1833-1922 The rainbow in the clouds is but a symbol of the rainbow which has encircled the throne from eternity. Back in the ages, which finite mind cannot fathom, the Father and Son were alone in the universe. Christ was the first begotten of the Father, and to Him Jehovah made known the divine plan of Creation. The plan of the creation of worlds was unfolded, together with the order of beings which should people them. Angels, as representatives of one order, would be ministers of the God of the universe. The creation of our own little world, was included in the deep-laid plans. The fall of Lucifer was foreseen; likewise the possibility of the introduction of sin, which would mar the perfection of the divine handiwork. It was then, in those early councils, that Christ’s heart of love was touched; and the only begotten Son pledged His life to redeem man, should he yield and fall. Father and Son, surrounded by impenetrable glory, clasped hands. It was in appreciation of this offer, that upon Christ was bestowed creative power, and the everlasting covenant was made; and henceforth Father and Son, with one mind, worked together to complete the work of creation. Sacrifice of self for the good of others was the foundation of it all. (Stephen N. Haskell, The Story of the Seer of Patmos, pages 93,94, 1905) Before the creation of our world, “there was war in heaven.” Christ and the Father covenanted together; and Lucifer, the covering cherub, grew jealous because he was not admitted into the eternal councils of the Two who sat upon the throne. (Stephen N. Haskell, The Story of the Seer of Patmos, pages 217, 1905) Christ was the firstborn in heaven; He was likewise the firstborn of God upon earth, and heir to the Father’s throne. Christ, the firstborn, though the Son of God, was clothed in humanity, and was made perfect through suffering. He took the form of man, and through eternity, He will remain a man. (Stephen N. Haskell, The Story of the Seer of Patmos, pages 98,99, "); array_files[73]=new Array(0,1,"http://www.restorationministry.com/books/wdtpb/SDA_Pioneers_on_the_Trinity.htm","2007-12-06","8K","Position of SDA Pioneers on the Trinity","",""," Position of SDA Pioneers on the Trinity Position of SDA Pioneers on the Trinity [This article written by R. F. Cottrell published in the Review of June 1, 1869, sets forth well the attitude of the pioneers and believers on the question of the trinity. - A. L. White.] This has been a popular doctrine and regarded as orthodox ever since the bishop of Rome was elevated to the popedom on the strength of it. It is accounted dangerous heresy to reject it; but each person is permitted to explain the doctrine in his own way. All seem to think they must hold it, but each has perfect liberty to take his own way to reconcile its contradictory propositions; and hence a multitude of views are held concerning it by its friends, all of them orthodox, I suppose, as long as they nominally assent to the doctrine. For myself, I have never felt called upon to explain it, nor to adopt and defend it, neither have I ever preached against it. But I probably put as high an estimation on the Lord Jesus Christ as those who call themselves Trinitarians. This is the first time I have ever taken the pen to say anything concerning the doctrine. My reasons for not adopting and defending it, are 1. Its name is unscriptural the Trinity, or the triune God, is unknown to the Bible; and I have entertained the idea that doctrines which require words coined in the human mind to express them, are coined doctrines. 2. I have never felt called upon to adopt and explain that which is contrary to all the sense and reason that God has given me. All my attempts at an explanation of such a subject would make it no clearer to my friends. But if I am asked what I think of Jesus Christ, my reply is, I believe all that the Scriptures say of him. If the testimony represents him as being in glory with the Father before the world was, I believe it. If it is said that he was in the beginning with God, that he was God, that all things were made by him and for him, and that without him was not anything made that was made, I believe it. If the Scriptures say he is th "); array_files[74]=new Array(0,1,"http://www.restorationministry.com/books/wdtpb/R_F_Cottrell.htm","2007-12-06","5K","R. F. Cottrell","",""," R. F. Cottrell R. F. Cottrell 1814-1892 He proceeded to affirm that “man is a triune being,” consisting of body, soul and spirit. I never heard a Disciple confess faith in the doctrine of the trinity; but why not, if man consists of three persons in one person? especially, since man was made in the image of God? But the image he said, was a moral likeness. So man may be a triune being without proving that God is. But does he mean that one man is three men? I might say that a tree consists of body, bark and leaves, and no one perhaps would dispute it. But if I should affirm that each tree consists of three trees, the assertion would possibly be doubted by some. But if all admitted that one tree is three trees, I might then affirm that there were ninety trees in my orchard, when no one could count but thirty. I might then proceed and say, I have ninety trees in my orchard, and as each tree consists of three trees, I have two hundred and seventy. So if one man is three men, you may multiply him by three as often as you please. But if it takes body, soul and spirit to make one perfect, living man; then separate these, and the man is unmade. (R.F. Cottrell, November 19, 1857, Review & Herald, vol. 11, no. 2, page 13, par. 13) That one person is three persons, and that three persons are only one person, is the doctrine which we claim is contrary to reason and common sense. The being and attributes of God are above, beyond, out of reach of my sense and reason, yet I believe them: But the doctrine I object to is contrary, yes, that is the word, to the very sense and reason that God has himself implanted in us. Such a doctrine he does not ask us to believe. A miracle is beyond our comprehension, but we all believe in miracles who believe our own senses. What we see and hear convinces us that there is a power that effected the most wonderful miracle of creation. But our Creator has made it an absurdity to us that one person should be three persons, and three persons but one person; and in his revealed word "); array_files[75]=new Array(0,1,"http://www.restorationministry.com/books/wdtpb/M_C_Wilcox.htm","2007-12-06","3K","M. C. Wilcox","",""," M. C. Wilcox M. C. Wilcox 1853-1935 Question 187: What is the difference between the Holy Spirit and the ministering spirits (angels), or are they the same? Answer: The Holy Spirit is the mighty energy of the Godhead, the life and power of God flowing out from Him to all parts of the universe, and thus making living connection between His throne and all creation. As is expressed by another: “The Holy Spirit is the breath of spiritual life in the soul. The impartation of the Spirit is the impartation of the life of Christ.” It thus makes Christ everywhere present. To use a crude illustration, just as a telephone carries the voice of a man, and so makes that voice present miles away, so the Holy Spirit carries with it all the potency of Christ in making Him everywhere present with all His power, and revealing Him to those in harmony with His law. Thus the Spirit is personified in Christ and God, but never revealed as a separate person. Never are we told to pray to the Spirit; but to God for the Spirit. Never do we find in the Scriptures prayers to the Spirit, but for the Spirit. (M. C. Wilcox, 1911, Questions and Answers Gathered From the Question Corner Department of the Signs of the Times, pages 181,182) Send mail to info@restorationministry.com with questions or com "); array_files[76]=new Array(0,1,"http://www.restorationministry.com/books/wdtpb/Misc_Writers.htm","2007-12-06","31K","Misc. Writers","",""," Misc. Writers Miscellaneous Writers BRO. E. Everts writes from Round Grove, Whiteside Co., Ill.:- “We find some who have ears to hear, some who acknowledge the truth as we present it, and some half dozen have decided to keep all the commandments. We find more who are looking for the coming of the Lord than we expected; and we find some who were keeping the Sabbath, who appear to delight in so-doing; but O how deformed they appear with their errors, of the “Spirit-Land,” the conscious, living dead, and a “Triune God.” How incomprehensible to attempt to comprehensible to attempt to comprehend living dead men; and, Father and Son, one person! (March 20, 1856, Review & Herald, vol. 7, no. 25, page 199) Did Christ die? All readily admit, that his body did, and the Scriptures expressly say, that his “soul” was made an “offering for sin” - that “he poured out his soul unto death” - that his “soul was exceeding sorrowful, even unto death” - and that “his soul was not left in hell,” or, correctly, the grave. That the very same Jesus that died, was raised from death to life, is evident from his own words. After his resurrection, he said to his disciples, “Behold my hands and my feet, that it is I, MYSELF.” Luke 24:39. This word, myself, is full of meaning and interest. It clearly and incontrovertibly identifies Jesus after the resurrection, with Jesus before the crucifixion: they are one and the same person, I, myself, with no other difference than he was mortal before death, but immortal after death: “he dieth no more,” “but ever liveth.” (July 4, 1854, Review & Herald, vol. 5, no. 22, page 169) The Sunday God We will make a few extracts, that the reader may see the broad contrast between the God of the Bible brought to light through Sabbath-keeping, and the god in the dark through Sunday-keeping. Catholic Catechism Abridged by the Rt. Rev. John Dubois, Bishop of New York. Page 5. Ques. Where is God? Ans. Go "); array_files[77]=new Array(0,1,"http://www.restorationministry.com/books/wdtpb/Merritt_E_Cornell.htm","2007-12-06","13K","M. E. Cornell","",""," M. E. Cornell Merritt E. Cornell: 1827 - 1893 Protestants and Catholics are so nearly united in sentiment, that it is not difficult to conceive how Protestants may make an image to the Beast. The mass of Protestants believe with Catholics in the Trinity, immortality of the soul, consciousness of the dead, rewards and punishments at death, the endless torture of the wicked, inheritance of the saints beyond the skies, sprinkling for baptism, and the PAGAN SUNDAY for the Sabbath; all of which is contrary to the spirit and letter of the new testament. Surely there is between the mother and daughters, a striking family resemblance. (M. E. Cornell, 1858, Facts For The Times, page 76) Who are Mormons? SOMETIMES our opponents, failing in argument, for effect, raise the cry of “Mormonism.” They cannot show that our views of spiritual gifts are unscriptural, or unreasonable, but because the Mormons professed to have those gifts, they think it a happy hit to excite prejudice against us, by calling us Mormons. But this charge loses all its force when we consider that faith in spiritual gifts is not peculiar to the Mormons. The most devoted and learned men of the Protestant sects have claimed the same thing both in theory and practice. [See work entitled “Miraculous Powers,” published at Review Office.] The truth is, we do not believe with the Mormons on a single point that is peculiar to them. But if to agree with the Mormons on leading points of doctrine, makes a man worthy of their name, then, verily the orthodox churches of the day are full of Mormons. 1. The Mormon Creed teaches the doctrine of the Trinity. “That Christ was the God, the Father of all things.” Mormon Bible, Book of Mosiah, par. 5. “Behold! I am Jesus Christ. I am the Father and the Son.” Book of Esther, ch. 1, par. 3. “Is the Son of God the very Eternal Father? Yea, he is the very Eternal Father.” Book of Alma, ch. 8, par. 7. 2. They believe in an immaterial God. “It is truth, light, and love, that "); array_files[78]=new Array(0,1,"http://www.restorationministry.com/books/wdtpb/J_S_Washburn.htm","2007-12-06","6K","J. S. Washburn","",""," J. S. Washburn Letter by J. S. Washburn The doctrine of the Trinity is a cruel heathen monstrosity, removing Jesus from his true position of Divine Savior and Mediator. It is true we can not measure or define divinity. It is beyond our finite understanding, yet on this subject of the personality of God the Bible is very simple and plain. The Father, the Ancient of Days, is from eternity. Jesus was begotten of the Father. Jesus speaking through the Psalmist says: “The Lord (Jehovah) has said unto me, Thou art my son, this day have I begotten thee.” - Psalm 2:7. Again in Proverbs (where Jesus is spoken of under the title of wisdom, See 1Cor. 1:24), we read: “The Lord (Jehovah) possessed me in the beginning of his way”. - v. 22 “Before the mountains were settled, before the hills was I brought forth.” - v. 24 The Son says he was brought forth, begotten, born of His Father (Jehovah).… Satan has taken some heathen conception of a three-headed monstrosity, and with deliberate intention to cast contempt upon divinity, has woven it into Romanism as our glorious God, an impossible, absurd invention. This monstrous doctrine transplanted from heathenism into the Roman Papal Church is seeking to intrude its evil presence into the teachings of the Third Angel’s Message.… And the fact that Christ is not the mediator in the Roman Church demonstrates that the Trinity destroys the truth that Christ is the one, the only mediator. The so-called Christian Church, the Papacy, that originated the doctrine of the Trinity, does not recognize him as the only mediator but substitutes a multitude of ghosts of dead men and women as mediators. If you hold the Trinity doctrine, in reality, Christ is no longer your mediator.… Seventh-day Adventists claim to take the word of God as supreme authority and to have “come out of Babylon”, to have renounced forever the vain traditions of Rome. If we should go back to the immortality of the soul, purgatory, eternal torment and the Sunday S "); array_files[79]=new Array(0,1,"http://www.restorationministry.com/books/wdtpb/J_N_Loughborough.htm","2007-12-06","8K","J. N. Loughborough","",""," J. N. Loughborough J.N. Loughborough: 1832 - 1924 Questions for Bro. Loughborough BRO. WHITE: The following questions I would like to have you give, or send, to Bro. Loughborough for explanation. W. W. Giles. Toledo, Ohio. QUESTION 1. What serious objection is there to the doctrine of the Trinity? ANSWER. There are many objections which we might urge, but on account of our limited space we shall reduce them to the three following: 1. It is contrary to common sense. 2. It is contrary to scripture. 3. Its origin is Pagan and fabulous. These positions we will remark upon briefly in their order. 1. It is not very consonant with common sense to talk of three being one, and one being three. Or as some express it, calling God “the Triune God,” or “the three-one-God.” If Father, Son, and Holy Ghost are each God, it would be three Gods; for three times one is not one, but three. There is a sense in which they are one, but not one person, as claimed by Trinitarians. 2. It is contrary to Scripture. Almost any portion of the New Testament we may open which has occasion to speak of the Father and Son, represents them as two distinct persons. The seventeenth chapter of John is alone sufficient to refute the doctrine of the Trinity. Over forty times in that one chapter Christ speaks of his Father as a person distinct from himself. His Father was in heaven and he upon earth. The Father had sent him. Given to him those that believed. He was then to go to the Father. And in this very testimony he shows us in what consists the oneness of the Father and Son. It is the same as the oneness of the members of Christ’s church. “That they all may be one; as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us; that the world may believe that thou hast sent me. And the glory which thou gavest me I have given them; that they may be one, even as we are one.” Of one heart and one mind. Of one purpose in all the plan devised for man’s salvation. Read the seventeenth chapter of John, "); array_files[80]=new Array(0,1,"http://www.restorationministry.com/books/wdtpb/J_N_Andrews.htm","2007-12-06","8K","J. N. Andrews","",""," J. N. Andrews J.N. Andrews: 1829 - 1883 The doctrine of the Trinity which was established in the church by the council of Nice, A.D. 325. This doctrine destroys the personality of God, and his Son Jesus Christ our Lord. The infamous, measures by which it was forced upon the church which appear upon the pages of ecclesiastical history might well cause every believer in that doctrine to blush. (J.N. Andrews, March 6, 1855, Review & Herald, vol. 6, no. 24, page 185) Melchisedec Our knowledge of this remarkable personage is derived only from Genesis 14, Psalm 110, and what Paul has written concerning him in the book of Hebrews. Many things respecting him are purposely concealed by the Holy Spirit, and it would, therefore, be fruitless for us to attempt to bring them to the light. He was king of Salem; he was priest of the most high God; he was, by virtue of his office, even the superior of Abraham; Christ is a priest after his order. He once met Abraham and received tithes of him, and blessed him. This is the substance of our knowledge of Melchisedec. When it is asked whether he was not identical with this or that remarkable man of his time, or when it is inquired of what race he was, and who were his parents, and how long he lived, and when he died, the answer must be, that we are not informed touching these things. But the following language of Paul has given rise to many strange speculations concerning him. Paul says of him that he was “without father, without mother, without descent, having neither beginning of days, nor end of life; but made like unto the Son of God; abideth a priest continually.” (Hebrews 7:8) Now, if these words be taken in an absolute sense, they can be true of no human being. Adam alone, of all the human race, was without father, and without mother, and without descent. But Adam had beginning of days and end of life. Enoch had no end of life, but he had all the other things which Paul says Melchisedec had not. So of Elijah, who, by the way, did not exist till long after the "); array_files[81]=new Array(0,1,"http://www.restorationministry.com/books/wdtpb/J_M_Stephenson.htm","2007-12-06","47K","J. M. Stephenson","",""," J. M. Stephenson J.M. Stephenson In reference to his dignity, he is denominated the Son of God, before his incarnation. Hear his own language: “He that speaketh of himself, seeketh his own glory: but he that seeketh his glory that sent him, the same is true.” John 7:18. “Say ye of him, whom the Father hath sanctified, and sent into the world, Thou blasphemest; because I said, I am the Son of God.” Chap. 10:36. “In this was manifest the love of God toward us, because God sent his only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through him. Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins. 1John 4:9,10. The idea of being sent implies that he was the Son of God antecedent to his being sent. To suppose otherwise is to suppose that a father can send his son on an errand before that son has an existence, which would be manifestly absurd. “To say that God sent his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh,” is equivalent to saying that the Son of God assumed our nature; he must therefore have been the Son of God before his incarnation. (J.M. Stephenson, November 7, 1854, Review & Herald, vol. 6, no. 13, page 99, par. 10) But in the last place, on this point, What was the origin of this nature; or in other words, the origin of the Son of God. It is admitted by Trinitarians that the pre-existence, simply considered, does not prove his eternal God-head, nor his eternal Son-ship. Says Watson, a standard writer of the Trinitarian School, “His pre-existence, indeed, simply considered, does not evince his God-head, and is not therefore, a proof against the Arian hypothesis; but it destroys the Socinian notion, that he was a man only. For since no one contends for the pre-existence of human souls, and if they did, the doctrine would be confuted by their own consciousness, it is clear, that if Christ existed before his incarnation, he is not a mere man, whatever his nature, by other arguments may be proved to be. "); array_files[82]=new Array(0,1,"http://www.restorationministry.com/books/wdtpb/J_H_Waggoner.htm","2007-12-06","15K","J. H. Waggoner","",""," J. H. Waggoner Joseph H. Waggoner: 1820 - 1889 (Father of E.J. Waggoner) Doctrine of a Trinity Subversive of the Atonement It will no doubt appear to many to be irreverent to speak thus of the doctrine of a trinity. But we think they must view the subject in a different light if they will calmly and candidly examine the arguments which we shall present. We know that we write with the deepest feelings of reverence for the Scriptures, and with the highest regard for every Scripture doctrine and Scripture fact. But reverence for the Scriptures does not necessarily embrace reverence for men’s opinions of the Scriptures. It is not our purpose to present any argument on the doctrine of the trinity, further than it has a bearing on the subject under consideration, namely, on the Atonement. And we are willing, confidently willing to leave the decision of the question with all who will carefully read our remarks, with an effort to divest themselves of prejudice, if they unfortunately possess it. The inconsistencies of Trinitarians, which must be pointed out to free the Scripture doctrine of the Atonement from reproaches under which it has too long lain, are the necessary outgrowth of their system of theology. No matter how able are the writers to whom we shall refer, they could never free themselves from inconsistencies without correcting their theology. Many theologians really think that the Atonement, in respect to its dignity and efficacy, rests upon the doctrine of a trinity. But we fail to see any connection between the two. To the contrary, the advocates of that doctrine really fall into the difficulty which they seem anxious to avoid. Their difficulty consists in this: They take the denial of a trinity to be equivalent to a denial of the divinity of Christ. Were that the case, we should cling to the doctrine of a trinity as tenaciously as any can; but it is not the case. They who have read our remarks on the death of the Son of God know that we firmly believe in the divinity of Christ; but we cannot accept "); array_files[83]=new Array(0,1,"http://www.restorationministry.com/books/wdtpb/Joseph_Bates.htm","2007-12-06","5K","Joseph Bates","",""," Joseph Bates Joseph Bates: 1792 - 1872 My parents were members of long standing in the Congregational church, with all of their converted children thus far, and anxiously hoped that we would also unite with them. But they embraced some points in their faith which I could not understand. I will name two only: their mode of baptism, and doctrine of the trinity. My father, who had been a deacon of long standing with them, labored to convince me that they were right in points of doctrine.… Respecting the trinity, I concluded that it was an impossibility for me to believe that the Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of the Father, was also the Almighty God, the Father, one and the same being. I said to my father, “If you can convince me that we are one in this sense, that you are my father, and I your son; and also that I am your father, and you my son, then I can believe in the trinity.” (Joseph Bates, 1868, The Autobiography Of Elder Joseph Bates, page 204) One thing more: Much derision is made about those of our company that have joined the Shakers. I say it is a shame to them first, to have preached so clearly and distinctly the speedy coming of our Lord Jesus Christ personally to gather his saints - and then to go and join the Shakers in their faith, that he (Jesus) came spiritually in their Mother, Ann Lee, more than seventy years ago. This, without doubt in my mind, is owing to their previous teaching and belief in a doctrine called the trinity. How can you find fault with their faith while you are teaching the very essence of that never - no never to be understood, doctrine? For their comfort and faith, and of course your own, you say “Christ is God, and God is love.” As you have given no explanation, we take it to come from you as a literal exposition of the word;… We believe that Peter and his master settled this question beyond controversy, Matt. 16:13-19; and I cannot see why Daniel and John has not fully confirmed that Christ is the Son, and, not God the Father. How could Daniel ex "); array_files[84]=new Array(0,1,"http://www.restorationministry.com/books/wdtpb/John_Matteson.htm","2007-12-06","2K","John Matteson","",""," John Matteson John Matteson 1835-1896 Christ is the only literal son of God. “The only begotten of the Father.” John 1:14. He is God because he is the Son of God; not by virtue of His resurrection. If Christ is the only begotten of the Father, then we cannot be begotten of the Father in a literal sense. It can only be in a secondary sense of the word. (John Matteson, October 12, 1869, Review & Herald, page123) Send mail to info@restorationministry.com with questions or com "); array_files[85]=new Array(0,1,"http://www.restorationministry.com/books/wdtpb/G_W_Amadon.htm","2007-12-06","6K","G. W. Amadon","",""," G. W. Amadon G.W. Amadon 1832-1913 How Shall We Explain it? IN Rev. 1:8, occurs a passage which has presented some difficulty to those who reject the doctrine of the trinity. The text, with its foregoing connection, reads as follows: “Behold, he cometh with clouds; and every eye shall see him, and they also which pierced him: and all kindreds of the earth shall wail because of him. Even so, Amen. I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the ending, saith the Lord, which is, and which was, and which is to come, the Almighty.” Verses 7 and 8. The question has often arisen here, In what sense is Jesus Christ “the Almighty?” To us this inquiry is very easily answered. We do not believe that Christ is at all meant by the phrase, the Almighty, and for this belief we will give a few short reasons. 1. We think there are two persons brought to view in these texts - the Saviour, in the seventh verse; and the Father, in the eighth. 2. There is another most august title in verse 8 which never refers to the Son. It is the phrase - “Which is, and which was, and which is to come.” This title points out the eternity of the being to whom it refers. We will notice the use of this title, as the passages in which it occurs very plainly show that it belongs to “the High and lofty One which inhabits eternity.” Beginning with verse 4 of this chapter it reads - “John to the seven churches which are in Asia: Grace be unto you, and peace, from Him which is, and which was, and which is to come; and from the seven spirits which are before his throne; AND FROM Jesus Christ, who is the faithful Witness, and the first-begotten of the dead, and the Prince of the kings of the earth.” Here are two personages pointed out - the everlasting God under the fitting title, “Which is, and which was, and which is to come, the Almighty,” and Jesus Christ by the no less appropriate titles of “the faithful Witness,” “the first-begotten of the dead,” and “the Prince of the "); array_files[86]=new Array(0,1,"http://www.restorationministry.com/books/wdtpb/E_G_Waggoner.htm","2007-12-06","12K","E. J. Waggoner","",""," E. J. Waggoner E. J. Waggoner: 1855 - 1916 The Word was “in the beginning.” The mind of man cannot grasp the ages that are spanned in this phrase. It is not given to men to know when or how the Son was begotten; but we know that he was the Divine Word, not simply before He came to this earth to die, but even before the world was created. Just before His crucifixion He prayed, “And now, O Father, glorify thou Me with Thine own self with the glory which I had with Thee before the world was.” John 17:5. And more than seven hundred years before His first advent, His coming was thus foretold by the word of inspiration: “But thou, Bethlehem Ephratah, though thou be little among the thousands of Judah, yet out of thee shall He come forth unto Me that is to be ruler in Israel; whose goings forth have been from of old, from the days of eternity.” Micah 5:2, margin. We know that Christ “proceeded forth and came from God” (John 8:42), but it was so far back in the ages of eternity as to be far beyond the grasp of the mind of man. (E. J. Waggoner, 1890, Christ And His Righteousness, page 9) Is Christ God? This name was not given to Christ in consequence of some great achievement, but it is His by right of inheritance. Speaking of the power and greatness of Christ, the writer to the Hebrews says that He is made so much better than the angels, because “He hath by inheritance obtained a more excellent name than they.” Heb. 1:4. A son always rightfully takes the name of the father; and Christ, as “the only begotten Son of God,” has rightfully the same name. A son, also, is, to a greater or less degree, a reproduction of the father; he has to some extent the features and personal characteristics of his father; not perfectly, because there is no perfect reproduction among mankind. But there is no imperfection in God, or in any of His works, and so Christ is the “express image” of the Father’s person. Heb. 1:3. As the Son of the self- existent God, He has "); array_files[87]=new Array(0,1,"http://www.restorationministry.com/books/wdtpb/Ellen_G_White.htm","2007-12-06","20K","Ellen G. White","",""," Ellen G. White Ellen G. White: 1827-1915 Our Periodicals God has given me light regarding our periodicals. What is it?—He has said that the dead are to speak. How?—Their works shall follow them. We are to repeat the words of the pioneers in our work, who knew what it cost to search for the truth as for hidden treasure, and who labored to lay the foundation of our work. They moved forward step by step under the influence of the Spirit of God. One by one these pioneers are passing away. The word given me is, Let that which these men have written in the past be reproduced. And in The Signs of the Times let not the articles be long or the print fine. Do not try to crowd everything into one number of the paper. Let the print be good, and let earnest, living experiences be put into the paper. Not long ago I took up a copy of the Bible Echo. As I looked it through, I saw an article by Elder Haskell and one by Elder . As I laid the paper down, I said, These articles must be reproduced. There is truth and power in them. Men spoke as they were moved by the Holy Spirit. Let the truths that are the foundation of our faith be kept before the people. Some will depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits and doctrines of devils. They talk science, and the enemy comes in and gives them an abundance of science; but it is not the science of salvation. It is not the science of humility, of consecration, or of the sanctification of the Spirit. We are now to understand what the pillars of our faith are,—the truths that have made us as a people what we are, leading us on step by step. Early Experiences After the passing of the time in 1844 we searched for the truth as for hidden treasure. I met with the brethren, and we studied and prayed earnestly. Often we remained together until late at night, and sometimes through the entire night, praying for light and studying the Word. Again and again these brethren came together to study the Bible, in order that they might know its meaning, and be prepared to teach "); array_files[88]=new Array(0,1,"http://www.restorationministry.com/books/wdtpb/A_T_Jones.htm","2007-12-06","8K","A. T. Jones","",""," A. T. Jones Alonzo T. Jones: 1850 - 1923 He who was born in the form of God took the form of man. “In the flesh he was all the while as God, but he did not appear as God.” “He divested himself of the form of God, and in its stead took the form and fashion of man.” “The glories of the form of God, He for awhile relinquished.” (A.T. Jones, General Conference Bulletin 1895, page 448) He was born of the Holy Ghost. In other words, Jesus Christ was born again. He came from heaven, God’s first-born, to the earth, and was born again. But all in Christ’s work goes by opposites for us: He, the sinless one, was made to be sin in order that we might be made the righteousness of God in Him. He, the living One, the Prince and Author of life, died that we might live. He whose goings forth have been from the days of eternity, the first-born of God, was born again in order that we might be born again. (Christian Perfection, paragraphs 53,54 A Sermon By A.T. Jones, Review & Herald, July 7 - August 1, 1899) (This is also found in Lessons on Faith, page 154) 11. “In accordance with this opinion” then, what has been done? “The Christian religion,” that is, “Christianity, general Christianity,” is legally recognized and declared to be the established religion of this nation, and that consequently “this is a Christian nation.” With this also, “in language more or less emphatic,” there is justified as the “meaning” of the Constitution of the United States, (1) the maintenance of the discipline of the Churches by the civil power; (2) the requirement of the religious oath; (3) the requirement of the religious test oath as a qualification for office; (4) public taxation for the support of religion and religious teachers; (5) the requirement of a belief in the Trinity and the inspiration of “the Holy Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments;” (6) the guilt of blasphemy upon everyone who speaks or acts in contempt of the esta "); array_files[89]=new Array(0,1,"http://www.restorationministry.com/books/wdtpb/A_J_Dennis.htm","2007-12-06","2K","A. J. Dennis","",""," A. J. Dennis A. J. Dennis What a contradiction of terms is found in the language of Trinitarian creed: “In unity of this head are three persons, of one substance, power, and eternity, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost.” There are many things that are mysterious, written in the word of God, but we may safely presume the Lord never calls upon us to believe impossibilities. But creeds often do. (A. J. Dennis, May 22, 1879, Signs Of The Times) Send mail to info@restorationministry.com with questions or com "); array_files[90]=new Array(0,4,"http://www.restorationministry.com/books/Truth%20About%20God/pdf/Who%20is%20Telling%20the%20Truth%20About%20God.PDF","2007-12-06","100K"," Who is Telling the Truth About God?","","","WHO IS TELLING THE TRUTH ABOUT GOD? Here are the facts YOU DECIDE! 1 WHAT DOES THE BIBLE SAY ABOUT GOD ? THERE IS ONLY ONE GOD Mark 12:29,32,34 And Jesus answered him, The first of all the commandments is, Hear, O Israel; The Lord our God is one Lord: {32}And the scribe said unto him, Well, Master, thou hast said the truth: for there is one God; and there is none other but he: {34 }And when Jesus saw that he answered discreetly, he said unto him, Thou art not far from the kingdom of God. And no man after that durst ask him any question. 1 Corinthians 8:4 As concerning therefore the eating of those things that are offered in sacrifice unto idols, we know that an idol is nothing in the world, and that there is none other God but one. GOD IS THE FATHER ONLY 1 Corinthians 8:6 But to us there is but one God, the Father, of whom are all things, and we in him; and one Lord Jesus Christ, by whom are all things, and we by him. John 17:3 And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent. Revelation 21:22 And I saw no temple therein: for the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are the temple of it. 1 Corinthians 11:3 But I would have you know, that the head of every man is Christ; and the head of the woman is the man; and the head of Christ is God. Ephesians 4:6 One God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all. 1 Timothy 2:5 For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus; 2 Corinthians 1:3 Blessed be God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies, and the God of all comfort; 1 Corinthians 15:24-28 Then cometh the end, when he shall have delivered up the kingdom to God, even the Father; when he shall have put down all rule and all authority and power. {25} For he must reign, till he hath put all enemies under his feet. {26} The last enemy that shall be destroyed is death. {27} For he hath put all things under his feet. But when he saith all things are put under him, it is manifest that "); array_files[91]=new Array(0,1,"http://www.restorationministry.com/books/Truth%20About%20God/html/truth_about_god.htm","2007-12-06","0K","The Truth about God","",""," The Truth about God frameset rows=* cols=197,* framespacing=5 frameborder=yes border=5 bordercolor=#993300 frame src=truth_about_god%20nav.htm name=navFrame scrolling=auto noresize id=navFrame frame src=truth_about_god%20content.htm name=Contentframe scrolling=yes id=Contentframe noframes "); array_files[92]=new Array(0,1,"http://www.restorationministry.com/books/Truth%20About%20God/html/truth_about_god%20nav.htm","2007-12-06","2K","Nav","",""," Nav Who is Telling the Truth About God? PDF Version What does the Bible say about God? Elohim Jesus and the Holy Spirit? Did Ellen White tell the truth about God? Are the writings of the SDA Pioneers Dependable? Did the SDA Pioneers tell the truth about God? Is the present SDA Church telling the truth about God? Are the Independent Ministries telling the truth about God? Does the Roman Catholic Church tell the truth about God? "); array_files[93]=new Array(0,1,"http://www.restorationministry.com/books/Truth%20About%20God/html/truth_about_god%20content.htm","2007-12-06","146K","Content","",""," Content Who is Telling the Truth About God? What does the bible say about God? THERE IS ONLY ONE GOD Mark 12:29,32,34 And Jesus answered him, The first of all the commandments is, Hear, O Israel; The Lord our God is one Lord:{32}And the scribe said unto him, Well, Master, thou hast said the truth: for there is one God; and there is none other but he: {34}And when Jesus saw that he answered discreetly, he said unto him, Thou art not far from the kingdom of God. And no man after that durst ask him any question. 1 Corinthians 8:4 As concerning therefore the eating of those things that are offered in sacrifice unto idols, we know that an idol is nothing in the world, and that there is none other God but one. GOD IS THE FATHER ONLY 1 Corinthians 8:6 But to us there is but one God, the Father, of whom are all things, and we in him; and one Lord Jesus Christ, by whom are all things, and we by him. John 17:3 And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent. Revelation 21:22 And I saw no temple therein: for the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are the temple of it. 1 Corinthians 11:3 But I would have you know, that the head of every man is Christ; and the head of the woman is the man; and the head of Christ is God. Ephesians 4:6 One God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all. 1 Timothy 2:5 For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus; 2 Corinthians 1:3 Blessed be God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies, and the God of all comfort; 1 Corinthians 15:24-28 Then cometh the end, when he shall have delivered up the kingdom to God, even the Father; when he shall have put down all rule and all authority and power. {25} For he must reign, till he hath put all enemies under his feet.{26} The last enemy that shall be destroyed is death.{27} For he hath put all things under his feet. But when he saith all things are put under him, it is manifest that he is excepted, which did put "); array_files[94]=new Array(0,1,"http://www.restorationministry.com/index.html","2007-12-01","12K","Restoration Ministry - Restoring the Truth about God","",""," Restoration Ministry - Restoring the Truth about God RESTORATION MINISTRIES Welcome to Restoration Ministries Thanks for taking the time to visit us. If you have visited us before we hope you will find our redesigned site easier to navigate. It is our prayer that you will find our web pages uplifting and encouraging. We invite you to examine the materials offered here and we encourage you to feel free to provide us with your feedback. Please check back often as we will be continually updating and expanding these truth-filled pages. Here at Restoration Ministries we believe that as we near the end of this earths history one subject will swallow up every other --Christ our righteousness. We are happy to be able to bring you Live audio sermons on this greatest of all subjects - Righteousness in Christ by Faith. As the Lord continues to lead us into more light we will continue to make these messages available to all. The latest audio addition to the series on Righteousness by faith is a sermon entitled Life After Death. To find this message simply go to the Live Audio section of our site. You will also find many other sermons there. Check out Articles on Righteousness by Faith for an Open Face look at the subject. Our Mission Restoration Ministries is dedicated to the promotion of the truths contained in the word of God. In particular to the restoration of those truths which have been cast down to the ground and trampled underfoot by the papacy, and adopted by her daughters. Our purpose is to motivate men and women to commit themselves wholly to the task of personal preparation for the coming of the Lord, and to the taking of the final warning message to every nation, kindred, tongue and people. "); array_files[95]=new Array(0,1,"http://www.restorationministry.com/","2007-12-01","12K","Restoration Ministry - Restoring the Truth about God","",""," Restoration Ministry - Restoring the Truth about God RESTORATION MINISTRIES Welcome to Restoration Ministries Thanks for taking the time to visit us. If you have visited us before we hope you will find our redesigned site easier to navigate. It is our prayer that you will find our web pages uplifting and encouraging. We invite you to examine the materials offered here and we encourage you to feel free to provide us with your feedback. Please check back often as we will be continually updating and expanding these truth-filled pages. Here at Restoration Ministries we believe that as we near the end of this earths history one subject will swallow up every other --Christ our righteousness. We are happy to be able to bring you Live audio sermons on this greatest of all subjects - Righteousness in Christ by Faith. As the Lord continues to lead us into more light we will continue to make these messages available to all. The latest audio addition to the series on Righteousness by faith is a sermon entitled Life After Death. To find this message simply go to the Live Audio section of our site. You will also find many other sermons there. Check out Articles on Righteousness by Faith for an Open Face look at the subject. Our Mission Restoration Ministries is dedicated to the promotion of the truths contained in the word of God. In particular to the restoration of those truths which have been cast down to the ground and trampled underfoot by the papacy, and adopted by her daughters. Our purpose is to motivate men and women to commit themselves wholly to the task of personal preparation for the coming of the Lord, and to the taking of the final warning message to every nation, kindred, tongue and people. "); array_files[96]=new Array(0,1,"http://www.restorationministry.com/tracts/are_sdas_advancing.htm","2007-11-29","12K","Are SDAs Advancing?","",""," Are SDAs Advancing? Are SDAs Advancing? One of the most significant statements by the Seventh-day Adventist Church in recent times regarding advancement in light is that of William G. Johnsson, Editor of the Adventist Review. Adventist beliefs have changed over the years under the impact of ‘present truth’. Most startling is the teaching regarding Jesus Christ, our Saviour and Lord...... the Trinitarian understanding of God, now part of our fundamental beliefs, was not generally held by the early Adventists. - Adventist Review, Jan 6, 1994. p.10. Of such significance is this change that George Knight, Andrews University Seminary professor made the following statement in Ministry, the official Seventh-day Adventist journal for ministers: Most of the founders of Seventh-day Adventism would not be able to join the church today if they had to subscribe to the denomination’s Fundamental Beliefs. More specifically, most would not be able to agree to belief number 2, which deals with the doctrine of the trinity. - Ministry, October 1993, p. 10. A recent exposition on this new advance in light presented in the Week of Prayer readings, appointed to be read in all Seventh-day Adventist churches worldwide is as follows: A plan of salvation was encompassed in the covenant made by the Three Persons of the Godhead, who possessed the attributes of Deity equally. In order to eradicate sin and rebellion from the universe and to restore harmony and peace, one of the divine Beings accepted, and entered into the role of the Father, another the role of the Son. The remaining divine Being, the Holy Spirit, was also to participate in effecting the plan of salvation. - Adventist Review, October 31,1996, p.12- Gordon Jenson This statement unmistakably implies that (1) the appellations, Father and Son are merely designations based on an arrangement rather than substantive fact and (2) there are three separate Persons, each of whom is God, equally. The above conclusions are fundamentally opposed to the earlier beliefs of Seventh-day "); array_files[97]=new Array(0,1,"http://www.restorationministry.com/tracts/1888.htm","2007-11-29","12K","1888","",""," 1888 1888 If you are a Seventh-day Adventist, you must have heard about the year 1888. This date is almost as important to Adventists as is the year 1844. It was the year of the most important General Conference session in the history of the church. What was so important about this General Conference meeting, which took place in Minneapolis in the year 1888? God’s messenger, Ellen White, said that at this meeting God sent a special message to the church, by two young ministers, elders A.T. Jones and E.J. Waggoner. She stated concerning this message: The time of test is just upon us, for the loud cry of the third angel has already begun in the revelation of the righteousness of Christ, the sin-pardoning Redeemer: This is the beginning of the light of the angel whose glory shall fill the whole earth.. - Selected Messages – bk 1, p.363 Can you see what this means? Just think for a moment: This means that the whole key to the perfecting of God’s people and the finishing of the work, lies in this message, whatever it was. Yet, today, more than 100 years after 1888, we are still in this world and the work is just as far from completion as it was in 1888. The only conclusion that we can come to, is that the message was never accepted and received by the church! In the year 1892, the prophet wrote: The brethren were moved at this meeting by another spirit, and they knew not that God had sent these young men to bear a special message to them which they treated with ridicule and contempt, and I know that at that time the Spirit of God was insulted. - Letter S – Manuscript 24 The message and the messengers were not accepted in 1888. In fact, because Sister White supported the message, some began to even question whether or not she was really led of God. This message has never since been accepted by the church, and today it is no more likely to be accepted than it was in 1888. But the vital question is this: WHAT WAS THIS MESSAGE? Well, to put it simply, it was called the message of, Righteousness by Faith, or, Justifi "); array_files[98]=new Array(0,1,"http://www.restorationministry.com/tracts/who_is_the_antichrist.htm","2007-11-29","29K","Who is the Antichrist?","",""," Who is the Antichrist? Who is the Antichrist? Perhaps you will not read this tract. Many of us are afraid to face truth, because usually the truth requires us to act, and perhaps even to change our comfortable way of life. Others will not read because of prejudice. We have become so familiar with the ways and the mind of the world, the standards of men, that we automatically reject that which is not popular. Yet it may be possible that a fearful time is just ahead of all of us, when a terrible holocaust will be unleashed upon the whole world. Can you afford to ignore facts? Shouldn’t you at least examine the evidence? Do not be among the fearful ones who would bury their heads in the sand. At least, read what is said before you make up your mind. It may be that you will be saved from the greatest deception that has ever come upon the human race. The Bible states plainly that the Antichrist will be revealed before Jesus returns to take His church to be with Him. It is stated so plainly that it is very difficult to understand how some have come to believe otherwise. 2 Thess. 2:3 tells us: Let no man deceive you by any means for that day shall not come except there come a falling away first and the man of sin be revealed. It has been confidently believed by Christians for many years that the return of Jesus is at hand. At the very door. If this is true, then surely the Antichrist must be already revealed (if the word of God is true). Yet, where is he? Clearly the Bible tells us that that day (the day of our gathering together to Jesus) shall not come until the Antichrist first comes and performs his marvellous deceptions in the sight of the whole world (please read 2 Thess. 2:1-12). Sometimes we become so set in our ways, and so sold on a certain idea that we cannot recognize the truth, even when it comes and taps us on the shoulder. Most of us have a preconceived idea of the Antichrist as being a fierce, warlike, physically strong person (such as Saddam Hussein of Ghaddafi), but is this what the Bible says? Not "); array_files[99]=new Array(0,1,"http://www.restorationministry.com/tracts/who_died_on_calvary.htm","2007-11-29","12K","Who Died On Calvary?","",""," Who Died On Calvary? Who Died On Calvary? One of the best known texts in the Bible is John 3:16. Most of us learned this verse while we were still children. It is the verse in the Bible which most completely, in a single verse, expresses the teaching of the whole gospel. For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten son that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. (John 3:16) It is a shocking thing, then, to realize that the vast majority of Christians in the world do not believe the truth expressed in this verse. Millions of persons who quote this text and, claim to believe in the gospel, do not accept fully, the facts proclaimed here. It was Jesus Himself who spoke these words, and the first great point which He wanted to make clear, was God’s love for the world. He wanted to bring home to our minds, the greatness of God’s love for us. God SO loved, He said, and the word so, is used to show us the degree, the extent of that love Which our heavenly Father, God, has for us. What is the measure of that love? It is that He gave His son, and not only His son, but His only begotten Son! This is how great God’s love for us is. It is easier for a good father to die himself than to give his child to die. When God gave His Son to die for us, it cost Him great suffering. Jesus was the only Being in all the universe who was a part of God in the truest sense. He actually came out of God, was born; begotten (we need not ask how. See Proverbs 8:22,23). He was close to the Father in a way that no other being could be. Yet God gave Him, to be separated from Himself for thirty-three years; to suffer the scorn, persecution, hate, rejection of a diseased world; to suffer the pain and indignity of the cross; to know the agony and uncertainty of unexpected separation from His Father for three fearsome days and nights. God gave His only begotten Son to suffer all this, because of the greatness of His love for us. WAS JESUS GOD’S BEGOTTEN SON? The majority of Christians would state posi "); array_files[100]=new Array(0,1,"http://www.restorationministry.com/tracts/the_truth_about_god.htm","2007-11-29","29K","The Truth About God","",""," The Truth About God The Truth About God In an attempt to study a subject like this one there are two basic facts we need to bear in mind. The first is that the Bible, the Holy Scriptures, are the words of God, and are referred to more specifically as, The written word. The second fact is that Jesus is also called The Word (John. 1:1,2,14) and He is referred to more specifically as The Living Word. With these two basic facts in mind. Let us look at the deeper aspects of what God has revealed to us about Himself in His own inspired word (2 Tim. 3:16). In Mark 12:28 the Bible tells of a scribe who came to Jesus with a question. His question was simply this: Which is the greatest commandment of all? Jesus responded to his question by quoting Deuteronomy 6:4. In verse 29 Jesus answered him this way: ‘The first of all the commandments is, hear O Israel the Lord our God is one Lord. Having heard this answer, the scribe said to Jesus, Well Master Thou hast said the truth, for there is one God and there is none other but He. (Mark 12:32) Jesus said of His Heavenly Father that He was ‘ONE’ singular, and the scribe said He was absolutely correct. In His last prayer recorded by John in the 17th chapter of the book of John, Jesus made the same declaration, listen to what He said in verse 3:- And this is Life eternal that they might know Thee the only true God and Jesus Christ whom thou hast sent. Jesus did not refer to Himself as God, did He? Jesus called HIS Heavenly Father the ONLY true God, didn’t He? And Jesus made a distinction between Himself and the only true God, didn’t He? Sure He did! In Matt 19:16,17 there was a rich young ruler who wanted to know what to do to get eternal life so he came to Jesus and he did not call Him by His earthly name. Let’s see how he greeted Jesus, and how Jesus responded. And behold one came and said unto him, Good Master... What did he call Jesus? Sure! GOOD MASTER. And what was Jesus’ response? He (Jesus) said unto him, why callest Thou me good? There is none good but One that is Go "); array_files[101]=new Array(0,1,"http://www.restorationministry.com/tracts/the_truth.htm","2007-11-29","14K","The Truth","",""," The Truth The Truth And ye shall know the truth and the truth shall make you free. John 8:32 When Jesus spoke these words, the Jews replied immediately. We be Abrahams seed and were never in bondage to any man. These were strange words coming from the Jews. How could they say such a thing? For four hundred and thirty years they had been slaves in Egypt. For seventy years they had been captives in Babylon and at that very moment they were under the dominion of the kingdom of Rome. So why did the Jews make such a boastful and untrue statement? The answer is to be found in their words, We be Abrahams seed. In these-words we find the very foundation of the Jewish blindness. God had promised to bless Abraham and his seed forever, and the Jews were absolutely convinced that because of this promise they would be a sacred people, special and peculiar to God forever. They did not realize that this would only be true if they remained faithful to God and were obedient to His word. They felt that they would never, ever, under any circumstances be cast off, or rejected by God, no matter how disobedient and unfaithful they were. So blinded were they by this false idea, that it led them to even deny the fact that they were in bondage at that very moment. Therefore, the words of` Jesus, Ye shall know the truth, annoyed the Jews. Here He was, suggesting that they did not know the truth, yet they were Abrahams seed! They were the chosen people of God, belonging to the true church, and they could prove it. They could trace the history of their nation in an unbroken line, right back to Abraham who had been the friend of God. God Himself had given them many, many, promises that He would never cast them off (Jeremiah 31:35-37). He had even delivered to them by His own mouth and by His own hand, His sacred laws. At that very moment they were standing in the great temple, raised up by them to the honour and Glory of God. If ever there was a people who had the truth, it was the Jews, and yet, here was Jesus suggesting that they did n "); array_files[102]=new Array(0,1,"http://www.restorationministry.com/tracts/the_sabbath.htm","2007-11-29","10K","The Sabbath","",""," The Sabbath Why Not Talk to God About the Sabbath? Lord, I have been thinking about the Sabbath. Some people keep it; some say it isn’t important. Should I be concerned about it? One man esteemeth one day above another : Another esteemeth every day alike. Let every man be fully persuaded in his own mind (Romans 14:5) Then tell me about the Sabbath. Is every day alike or do you have a special day of rest for Your followers? I was in the Spirit on THE LORD’S DAY: (Revelation 1:10) But which day is the Lord’s day? Which day should be esteemed above the others? The son of Man is Lord even of the Sabbath day (Matthew 12:8) There are seven days in the week. Which day is the Sabbath day? The SEVENTH DAY is the Sabbath of the Lord thy God: in it thou shalt not do any work. (Exodus 20:10) Which day, according to our reckoning is the seventh day – Saturday or Sunday? And when the Sabbath was past, Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James ... very early in the morning the first day of the week ... came unto the sepulchre at the rising of the sun ... and entering into the sepulchre, they saw a young man ... and he saith unto them, Be not affrighted: Ye seek Jesus of Nazareth, which was crucified: He is risen (Mark 16:1-6) (Note: everybody knows that Sunday was the resurrection day. The Sabbath was past when it dawned. Thus it is evident that the Sabbath is Saturday, the day before Sunday.) Do You mean, Lord, that the seventh day, Saturday, is a special day of rest above all the other days of the week? God BLESSED the seventh day, and SANCTIFIED it: because that in it he had rested from all his work which God created and made. (Genesis 2:3) How do You expect us to keep this day You have blessed and sanctified? Remember the Sabbath day to KEEP IT HOLY. Six days shalt thou labour, and do all thy work: but the seventh day is the Sabbath of the Lord thy God: in it thou shalt not do any work. (Fourth Commandment – Exodus 20:8-10) But Lord, didn’t You abolish the Law which contains the Sabbath Commandment? Think not that I a "); array_files[103]=new Array(0,1,"http://www.restorationministry.com/tracts/the_mark_of_the_beast.htm","2007-11-29","12K","The Mark of the Beast","",""," The Mark of the Beast The Mark of the Beast This tract tells the truth about the Mark of the Beast. Everything in it is proven from the Bible. If you doubt anything, then you may look up the scripture references and prove the truth for yourself. Please read it carefully. This great crisis is almost upon us! We must be prepared to face it, but the only way we can really do this, is by obeying God, and God alone. We read about the Beast in Revelation chapter 13. First of all we must understand something; is this a real beast? A real animal, or is it just a symbol? Answer: A beast represents a kingdom (Daniel 7:17, 23). So this is not a real beast, but is in fact, a kingdom. To find out which kingdom this is, we need to look at some of the things which the beast did, and then see if we can find any kingdom which did such works. IDENTIFYING THE BEAST KINGDOM 1. He spoke blasphemies against God. (Rev.13:5,6) 2. He made war with the saints, and overcame them. (Rev.13:7) 3. All that dwelt on the earth worshipped him. (Rev.13:8) 4. He tried to change God’s law. (Dan.7:25) 5. He sat in God’s temple, exalting himself above God. (2 Thess.2:4) 6. His number is 666. (Rev.13:18) There is not enough space in this tract to deal with all the evidence, but when we look at the six points above, we realize that there is only one kingdom in the world which could possibly be the beast. Let us now identify this beast. THE BEAST IS: The Roman Catholic Church-kingdom, which is partly a church, and partly a political state. The head of the kingdom is the Pope, and the headquarters is the little state of the Vatican which may be found in Rome. Let me prove it: Just look at the six points I mentioned before and compare them with these facts: 1. Blasphemies The Roman Catholic Church teaches that the voice of the pope is the voice of God. It teaches that he, as well as the priests has the power to forgive sins. In the Roman Catholic Church, sins are not confessed to God, but rather to the priests. 2. Made war against the saints In the past "); array_files[104]=new Array(0,1,"http://www.restorationministry.com/tracts/the_gospel_of_love.htm","2007-11-29","8K","The Gospel of Love","",""," The Gospel of Love The Gospel of Love The single Bible verse which, perhaps, more than any other summarizes the gospel is John 3:16 - For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life. In order to understand, receive and be saved by the gospel one must have a knowledge of both the God who so loved that He gave and the Son of God who was given for our sakes. Accordingly, Jesus prayed And this is life eternal that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent. John 17:3. In the world today, there is much confusion concerning the concept of God. Many will confess that they know not who or what God is. Yet , they still worship! Indeed, many are like the woman of Samaria to whom Jesus declared: Ye worship ye know not what John 4:22. This tract is dedicated to the knowledge of the only true God to whom Jesus prayed and His only begotten Son, Jesus Christ. The reason for this focus is that it is such knowledge which constitutes life eternal. John 17:3. The Only True God ‘The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament showeth his handiwork Ps. 19:1. Since No man hath seen God at any time (John 1:18) and He is the blessed and only Potentate the King of kings, and Lord of lords; Who only hath immortality, dwelling in the light which no man can approach unto; whom no man hath seen, nor can see (1 Tim. 6:15, 1 6), human beings can only obtain a knowledge of Him based on His own revelation of Himself. This He gives through His word, His handiwork (the universe which He created and over which He presides) and His Son Jesus Christ who is the express (precise) image of His person Heb. 1:3. Even a small glance at the vast universe is sufficient to impress the human mind with our utter incapacity to fathom the greatness and magnificence of the Great King of the universe who is called by such superlatives as the Almighty, the Most High, the Highest, the Ancient of Days, the God and Father of all who "); array_files[105]=new Array(0,1,"http://www.restorationministry.com/tracts/satans_deadliest_lie.htm","2007-11-29","13K","Satan’s Deadliest Lie","",""," Satan’s Deadliest Lie Satan’s Deadliest Lie The purpose of this tract is to show how God’s enemy and your enemy, the devil, has been trying to rob you of one of the greatest blessings which you can experience in this life. Our God and heavenly Father has given us blessings which are so wonderful that we can hardly find the words to explain them. The first great blessing is that our Father loves us so much that He gave His Son to die for our sins. It was His own Son that he gave. His only begotten Son. One who was born from the very substance of the Father Himself. The Father and His Son were together for millions of years. They were very close to one another, and the Father loved the Son with a very great love (See Proverbs 8:22-31). Yet, God loved us so much that when He knew that we were doomed to everlasting death, He decided to give His only begotten Son. The Son of His bosom, the one whom He loved from the days of eternity, to die for us (Rom. 8:32). This truly did happen, my friend. It was for you that the God of heaven gave His true Son to die. Can you see that He loves you personally, with a very great love? The second great blessing which the Father has given us, is that He Himself, and His Son, Jesus, have come to live with us. Please think about what I just said. God HIMSELF, the almighty One lives in everyone who is a genuine Christian!! I do not mean that His angels are with us (although they are). I do not mean that His power is with us (although it is). What I mean is that He Himself, the great God, and His Son, live with us, and in us, if we are His. Do you ask HOW this is possible? I do not know how. I know that God does not live in us in His bodily form, but nevertheless, His presence is here. His power, His life, He Himself is here, even though I cannot see Him. This is what He promises in His word: Jesus answered and said unto him, If a man love me, he will keep my words: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him. (John 14:23) (See also 1 Cor. 6:17 "); array_files[106]=new Array(0,1,"http://www.restorationministry.com/tracts/religious_deception.htm","2007-11-29","13K","Religious Deception","",""," Religious Deception Religious Deception Good day friend. It will not take long to read this tract and I hope you will read right through to the end. If you do, then your eyes will be opened to the startling delusion which is rapidly sweeping over the whole world and gathering the people of planet earth into the camp of Satan. The Bible speaks in many places of a terrible persecution which will arise against the people of God in the last days, just before Jesus returns. (Matt.10:22,23; Rev.13:15-17). Although most of us are aware of this coming crisis, yet, there is one aspect of it which is so unexpected and for which we are so unprepared, that there is the greatest danger that even some of us who mean to do well, will be swept away in the confusion which accompanies this final crisis. Whenever the Bible speaks of the last days, there is one word which comes up again and again. This is the word, DECEIVE. And many false prophets shall rise and shall deceive many. Matthew 24:11 God shows us in several passages that the people on this earth will be deceived by the devil and his agents, and that MOST people will be lost because of believing these deceptions. Now please consider the following question very carefully: What is the most effective way of deceiving a person? Well, if I wanted to deceive you, first of all I would need to gain your trust and confidence. I would need to behave in such a way as to convince you that I am a sincere person and one that you can trust. The more completely that I can get you to believe in me, then the easier it will be for me to deceive you. Please consider that point very carefully. The deceivers of the last days will be people that the whole world will be inclined to trust. In fact, they will call upon the name of Christ, they will preach and do miracles in His name, and they will be popular and well-respected (Matt. 7:22,23 ; Luke 6:26). These are the people who Jesus was warning against when He said, Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwar "); array_files[107]=new Array(0,1,"http://www.restorationministry.com/tracts/is_jesus_god's_son.htm","2007-11-29","11K","Is Jesus Gods Son?","",""," Is Jesus Gods Son? Is Jesus God’s Son? 1. This question goes beyond the mere usage of words. There is Son and there is son. Son by title (or mere designation) is not the same as son by adoption; neither of which are the same as son by creation; and none of the above are the same as Son - only begotten. 2. This question goes to the heart of all that is professed as Christianity. The Christian gospel declares that God so loved... that He gave His only begotten Son (John 3:16). The measure of God’s love for humanity is manifested in the gift of His only begotten Son (1John 4:9). If, therefore, Jesus Christ is not, truly, the only begotten Son of God, then God did not sacrifice as much as is presented to us; and if He did not sacrifice as much, then , He did not so love after all. 3. So critical is this issue that it determines who is antichrist. He is antichrist, that denieth the Father and the Son. 1 John 2:22. 4. The Scriptures are absolutely clear that Jesus Christ is the only begotten Son of God. Jesus declared I proceeded forth and came from God. John 8: 42. Of Christ, the wisdom of God (1 Cor. 1:24) it is also declared: The Lord possessed me in the beginning of his way.... When there were no depths, I was brought forth.... Then I was by him, as one brought up with him: and I was daily his delight, rejoicing always before him. Prov. 8:22-24, 30. 5. The vast majority of professed Christians deny that Jesus Christ was truly begotten of God before He came into the world as a babe. By the belief that God is a Trinity, persons deny that Jesus Christ is the begotten Son of God and that JEHOVAH is the Father of Jesus Christ. 6. Prophets of the Bible have referred to the Father as the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ (1 Pet. 1:3; 2 Cor. 11:31). 7. The Trinity declares that there is one God, a single Being who is simultaneously Father, Son and Holy Spirit. This idea immediately creates confusion as to who is the God that gave His Son and who was the Son that was given. Indeed, it raises a question as to whethe "); array_files[108]=new Array(0,1,"http://www.restorationministry.com/tracts/how_to_become_a_christian.htm","2007-11-29","10K","How to Become a Christian","",""," How to Become a Christian How to Become a Christian To become a Christian means to become a friend of Jesus. It means becoming a son of God. There is no greater privilege that any human being can have. The Almighty God who created the great universe is willing to become our best Friend; to take your life in charge and to make sure that everything that you do from now on, is good and perfect. He will take you and make you into a new person, one who is upright, honest, clean, dependable, and full of the joy of life. How can you become a Christian? It may be that your life is full of evil. It may be that you are a thief, a drunkard, a fornicator, a deep and desperate sinner - perhaps even a murderer! Or perhaps you are not what people would consider to be a great sinner. Perhaps all you do is tell a little lie sometimes, or talk a little foolishness, or perhaps get angry and lose your temper sometimes. But the truth still remains that you are separated from God. You are still the tool of Satan. If you do not allow God to control your life, then your master is Satan, and you are a slave. You need to be set free from the bondage of sin. Only Jesus can do that. You have only one hope, and that is to give your life completely to God. That is, to become a Christian. THE FIRST STEP The first thing which you need to do is to recognize your true condition. You must learn that you are a SINNER! That your life, as it is now is displeasing to God. Even if you live a life which seems to be good in the sight of people, yet the truth is that you are only deceiving yourself, and others. Deep in your heart, the well of pollution remains and it will keep on springing up, because there is no real good in any person, apart from God. You must realize that you are in danger of the judgment. The Almighty God, who is your Friend and who is pleading with you today to come to Him that you might have life, must be your judge one day soon. You, and every other human being must stand before the great white throne to hear His awful judgment "); array_files[109]=new Array(0,1,"http://www.restorationministry.com/tracts/demons_in_the_church.htm","2007-11-29","14K","Demons in the Church","",""," Demons in the Church Demons in the Church A woman is on the ground. Her body heaves and shudders under the control of some powerful force. Her heels drum against the floor as she thrashes about, while strange, unintelligible sounds come from her lips. Her eyes are glazed over, vacant, unable to recognize anyone. Standing all around her are people who are singing, shouting and clapping. With each jerk of the woman’s body there are cries of, hallelujah! Praise the Lord! Suddenly there is a commotion among the other people as another woman gives a piercing shriek and with convulsive jerking of her body, she too collapses to the floor. All around, other individuals are having the same experience, while the congregation continues to sing and praise. What is happening? Is this something strange? Unusual? Not at all. It is time for the regular church service and people are being filled with the spirit. All over the world, in more and more churches these experiences are taking place and more and more Christians are seeking to have this experience of speaking in unknown tongues and being filled with the spirit. Undoubtedly, something strange is happening in the churches. There is no question that there are supernatural forces at work among these Christians. However, there are serious questions which must be considered and which many of these Christians are not asking themselves as they seek to be filled with this spirit. Questions: 1. Is it possible for a church to call itself a Christian church when it is really controlled by Satan? 2. Is it possible for ministers and people to preach in the name of Jesus, to cast out demons, heal the sick, speak in tongues and yet be the servants of Satan? 3. Is it possible that most of the people who say that they have been filled with the Spirit, have really been possessed by demons? SATAN RULES THROUGH DECEPTION The key word is, deception. Satan could never hope to openly gain control of the churches. Christians would reject him with fear and scorn if he should come to them openl "); array_files[110]=new Array(0,1,"http://www.restorationministry.com/Open_Face/html/57-nov07-nav.htm","2007-11-28","1K","Contents","",""," Contents Open Face No. 57 Nov 2007 Home Newsletter Menu PDF Version In this issue: Two False Gospels Mans Real Problem The Nature of Christ True Freedom of Choice Issues in the Controversy Available Materials Publisher Information "); array_files[111]=new Array(0,1,"http://www.restorationministry.com/Open_Face/html/57-nov07-frameset.htm","2007-11-28","0K","Openface 57","",""," Openface 57 frameset rows=* cols=210,* framespacing=5 frameborder=yes border=5 bordercolor=#993300 frame src=57-nov07-nav.htm name=navFrame scrolling=auto noresize id=navFrame frame src=57-nov07-content.htm name=Contentframe scrolling=yes id=Contentframe noframes "); array_files[112]=new Array(0,1,"http://www.restorationministry.com/Open_Face/html/57-nov07-content.htm","2007-11-28","62K","Open Face 57","",""," Open Face 57 Open Face No 57- Nov 2007 Two False Gospels David Clayton Recently I received a couple of articles which were written by Ralph Larson and Dennis Priebe, both evidently written several years ago. I read these articles carefully. They were basically in harmony in presenting two different perspectives on the gospel, one of which they supported and the other which they strongly opposed. As I read these articles I realized that they were copies of articles which I had read years ago in the Layworker magazine. Now, reading them again, I realized that the authors of these articles had really not dealt with the subject in a comprehensive way. Their understanding of the issues had been superficial and as a result, their presentation did not really deal with the fundamental questions. In this edition of Open Face I want to look at the ideas of these two men, and show why their view is limited and does not answer the real questions. I will also look at the real issues and show what the biblical solution to the problem is. This is critically important for us to understand, because it is only when we understand what the problems really are that we can truly even begin to understand what the solution to the problems is. I have broken down the response to these two men into several short articles for easier reading and comprehension and these make up this edition of Open Face. ================================ Dennis Priebe and Ralph Larson have been representative voices in “historic Adventism” for many years. Ralph Larson especially has been a well known theologian who has championed the cause of those on the fringe of Adventism. When I first became involved in this movement I read several articles written by Ralph Larson who was regularly featured both as a writer and speaker in the various independent publications and at the various campmeetings. Though I never met elder Larson personally, it was evident to me that he was highly respected among the independent “historic” Adventists and that his opinion was hi "); array_files[113]=new Array(0,4,"http://www.restorationministry.com/Open_Face/html/pdf/openface57.pdf","2007-11-28","282K"," Open Face 57.p65","","","2 Cor. 3;18 Open Face NOV 2007 One interest will prevail, one subject will swallow up all others. Christ our Righteousness No. 57 Two False Gospels David Clayton that we can truly even begin to understand what the solution to the problems is. I have broken down the response to these two men into several short articles for easier reading and comprehension and these make up this edition of Open Face. ====================== ennis Priebe and Ralph Larson h a v e been representative voices in historic Adventism for many years. Ralph Larson especially has been a well known theologian who has championed the cause of those on the fringe of Adventism. When I first became involved in this movement I read several articles written by Ralph Larson who was regularly featured both as a writer and speaker in the various independent p u b l i c a t i o n s and at the various campmeetings. Though I never met elder Larson personally, it was evident to me that he was highly respected a m o n g the independent historic Adventists and that his opinion was highly valued. One of his most well known and widely read books is The Word was Made Flesh. I also never met Dennis Priebe personally. He is perhaps not as well known as Elder Larson but his writings and tapes have also made an imp a c t on the beliefs of historic Adventists. Sometime in the early nineties somebody sent me a set of tapes by Elder Priebe which focused on the issue of sin. I listened to the tapes and at the time they appeared to make sense to D me. For several years after that I vigorously defended the point of view presented by Elder Priebe which is basically the same as that presented by Elder Larson. Elder Priebe has published a book entitled, Face to Face With The Real Gospel, Where he presents his understanding of the iss u e s which are at the root of Adventisms problems. The Background Back in the 1950s, the SDA Church published a book called, Seventh-day A d v e n t i s t s answer Questions on Doctrine. This book was written in response to a series of questio "); array_files[114]=new Array(0,1,"http://www.restorationministry.com/video/truthofthegospel.htm","2007-10-31","1K","The Truth of the Gospel","",""," The Truth of the Gospel The Truth of The Gospel DOWNLOAD "); array_files[115]=new Array(0,1,"http://www.restorationministry.com/video/omega.htm","2007-10-31","1K","The Omega","",""," The Omega The Omega of Deadly Heresies DOWNLOAD "); array_files[116]=new Array(0,1,"http://www.restorationministry.com/video/fruitofthegospel.htm","2007-10-31","1K","The Fruit of the Gospel","",""," The Fruit of the Gospel The Fruit of The Gospel DOWNLOAD "); array_files[117]=new Array(0,1,"http://www.restorationministry.com/video/roots-of-the-trinity.htm","2007-10-31","1K","Roots of The Trinity","",""," Roots of The Trinity Roots of The Trinity DOWNLOAD "); array_files[118]=new Array(0,1,"http://www.restorationministry.com/video/god-of-the-bible.htm","2007-10-31","1K","God of the Bible","",""," God of the Bible The God of The Bible DOWNLOAD "); array_files[119]=new Array(0,1,"http://www.restorationministry.com/video/the-holy-spirit.htm","2007-10-25","1K","The Holy Spirit","",""," The Holy Spirit The Holy Spirit DOWNLOAD "); array_files[120]=new Array(0,1,"http://www.restorationministry.com/video/3-gospels.htm","2007-10-25","1K","The Three Gospels","",""," The Three Gospels The Three Gospels DOWNLOAD "); array_files[121]=new Array(0,1,"http://www.restorationministry.com/books/Mystery%20Demystified/html/mystery-demystified-preface.html","2007-10-16","5K","Preface","",""," Preface The Mystery Demystified Preface “What comes into our minds when we think about God is the most important thing about us. The history of mankind will probably show that no people has ever risen above its religion, and mans spiritual history will positively demonstrate that no religion has ever been greater than its idea of God. Worship is pure or base as the worshiper entertains high or low thoughts of God. For this reason the gravest question before the Church is always God Himself, and the most portentous fact about any man is not what he at a given time may say or do, but what he in his deep heart conceives God to be like. We tend by a secret law of the soul to move toward our mental image of God. This is true not only of the individual Christian, but of the company of Christians that composes the Church.... Were we able to extract from any man a complete answer to the question, “What comes into your mind when you think about God?” we might predict with certainty the spiritual future of that man. Were we able to know exactly what our most influential religious leaders think of God today, we might be able with some precision to foretell where the Church will stand tomorrow... That our idea of God correspond as nearly as possible to the true being of God is of immense importance to us. Compared with our actual thoughts about Him, our creedal statements are of little consequence. Our real idea of God may lie buried under the rubbish of conventional religious notions and may require an intelligent and vigorous search before it is finally unearthed and exposed for what it is. Only after an ordeal of painful self-probing are we likely to discover what we actually believe about God. A right conception of God is basic not only to systematic theology but to practical Christian living as well. It is to worship what the foundation is to the temple; where it is inadequate or out of plumb the whole structure must sooner or later collapse. I believe there is scarcely an error in doctrine or a failure in applying C "); array_files[122]=new Array(0,1,"http://www.restorationministry.com/books/Mystery%20Demystified/html/mystery-demystified-chap6.html","2007-10-16","29K","chapter 6","",""," chapter 6 The Mystery Demystified Chapter Six Roots of The Trinity The doctrine of the Trinity has been, from the moment it was first introduced into the Christian faith, a subject of heated debate and fierce controversy. Today many centuries later the situation is no different. Still there is argument and division concerning this doctrine which its advocates have declared to be a “great mystery.” Sometime, during the first four hundred years after the death of Christ, this doctrine crept into the teachings of popular Christianity. While it was officially embraced and defined at the Council of Nicea (AD 325), there seems to be evidence to suggest that even before this time it had already insinuated itself into the thinking of some Christians. However, what is absolutely certain is that this doctrine was not introduced into the Christian Church until more than a century after the death of the last of the apostles. The Encarta Encyclopedia describes its introduction into Christianity in the following way: Trinity (theology) , in Christian theology, doctrine that God exists as three persons—Father, Son, and Holy Spirit—who are united in one substance or being. The doctrine is not taught explicitly in the New Testament, where the word God almost invariably refers to the Father.... The term trinitas was first used in the 2nd century, by the Latin theologian Tertullian, but the concept was developed in the course of the debates on the nature of Christ. In the 4th century, the doctrine was finally formulated… The Encyclopedia Britannica states that “ The doctrine developed gradually over several centuries and through many controversies.” (Article – Trinity). The doctrine, according to these articles, was “developed” during the first four centuries AD. Now think carefully. Protestants believe in the Scripture . Catholics believe in Tradition plus Scripture . Protestantism says, “all necessary truth is taught in the Scriptures.” Catholicism says, “no, the Church continued to discover and proclaim more truth over the ce "); array_files[123]=new Array(0,1,"http://www.restorationministry.com/books/Mystery%20Demystified/html/mystery-demystified-nav.html","2007-10-16","1K","Navigation","",""," Navigation The Mystery Demystified Contents PDF Version Preface 1. Who Is God? 2. Did God Have A Son to Give? 3. The Divinity of Christ 4. The Omnipresence of God 5. Where is the Third Person? 6. Roots of The Trinity 7. Scripture Appendix "); array_files[124]=new Array(0,1,"http://www.restorationministry.com/books/Mystery%20Demystified/html/mystery-demystified-frameset.html","2007-10-16","0K","The Mystery Demystified","",""," The Mystery Demystified frameset rows=* cols=210,* framespacing=5 frameborder=yes border=5 bordercolor=#993300 frame src=mystery-demystified-nav.html name=navFrame scrolling=auto noresize id=navFrame frame src=mystery-demystified-preface.html name=Contentframe scrolling=yes id=Contentframe noframes "); array_files[125]=new Array(0,1,"http://www.restorationministry.com/books/Mystery%20Demystified/html/mystery-demystified-chap5.html","2007-10-16","15K","chapter 5","",""," chapter 5 The Mystery Demystified Chapter Five Where is The Third Person? In studying the word of God we sometimes encounter passages which seem to contradict each other, or to be in conflict. One example of this is the two statements by the apostles Paul and James concerning justification. Paul says: “... A man is justified by faith without the deeds of the law.” (Rom. 3: 28) But James says: “... By works a man is justified and not by faith only.” (James 2:24) Do these statements contradict each other? At first sight they may seem to. The person who has little faith will say, “see the Bible is not dependable. It contradicts itself.” However, the person who knows that the Bible is the true infallible word of God, will say, “well, here is something that needs to be examined more carefully. Let me see how these two verses. can be harmonized with each other.” Which of these two attitudes is the proper one? Of course it is the second one. Such a person will find that the Bible is indeed in perfect harmony when it is properly understood. He will find that it is he who needs understanding and not the Bible which needs correcting. He will discover that what at first seemed to be contradictory and puzzling was really the Avenue to a richer and deeper understanding of God and his ways. Why dont we apply the same rule when studying the subject of the godhead? Why is it that so many of us seem to believe that the subject is taboo and must not be discussed? Why is it that we cling to the popular long-accepted theory and refuse to examine all of its contradictions? Is this the true spirit of a learner? Of a humble Bible student? Of a child of God? As soon as the subject of the godhead is raised and the inconsistencies of the popular belief are pointed out, one word is trumpeted: Mystery! Mystery! This is supposed to cover all. This word is the end of all discussion and the end of all reasonable examination of the subject. This is not a safe attitude to take towards any doctrine of the Scriptures. The moment we take that at "); array_files[126]=new Array(0,1,"http://www.restorationministry.com/books/Mystery%20Demystified/html/mystery-demystified-chap4.html","2007-10-16","13K","chapter 4","",""," chapter 4 The Mystery Demystified Chapter Four The Omnipresence of God WHO IS THE HOLY SPIRIT? God is Omnipotent. This means that He has all power. Without limitations. There is nothing that He cannot do. There is nothing too hard for Him to accomplish. (Mat 19:26) God is Omnipresent. This means that He is at this moment, and at all moments, literally and personally present everywhere in the universe. This is true without qualification. He Himself, personally is here with me in this room as I write, while at the same moment He is trillions of light years away in space, in His throne room in heaven. (Ps. 139:1-12) How can God be here with me, while He is at the same time in heaven? How can He be said to, “fill heaven and earth?” (Jer. 23:24). Does it mean that His head is in heaven while His feet are on earth? Obviously not. What we need to understand is that the form of the Person which sits on the throne in heaven is not all there is of God. Though this is the form in which God appears to angels and to men. The wise man Solomon stated: But will God indeed dwell on the earth? behold, the heaven and heaven of heavens cannot contain thee; how much less this house that I have builded? (1 Ki 8:27) If the heaven and the heaven of heavens cannot contain God, then evidently, the part of God which is contained in heaven is not all there is of God. God Himself is actually the great conscious, living, presence which fills the entire universe. For in him we live, and move, and have our being; as certain also of your own poets have said, For we are also his offspring. (Acts 17:28) One God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all. (Eph. 4:6) There was a point, before time began, when God was all alone in the universe. Before planets, stars, systems, galaxies or angels were created, before He brought forth His Son, God existed, all alone. What was the universe like at that time? Was it an infinite nothingness? The apostle Paul described the church as being the body of Christ, “the fulness of Him "); array_files[127]=new Array(0,1,"http://www.restorationministry.com/books/Mystery%20Demystified/html/mystery-demystified-chap3.html","2007-10-16","21K","chapter 1","",""," chapter 1 The Mystery Demystified Chapter Three The Divinity of Christ Contradictions Some who claim to be earnest Christians have embraced the following ideas all of which they claim to be the truth. 1. God gave His Son to the world to show His love for men, but the one whom He gave was not truly His Son. 2. Jesus Christ is God and God cannot die, yet Jesus Christ died on Calvary. 3. A human sacrifice could not atone for the sins of the world, yet only the human part of Christ died. His divine nature did not - could not - die. 4. Death is an unconscious sleep, yet Jesus raised Himself from the dead, therefore must have been conscious in death. When a reasonable person, seeking for understanding points out these impossible contradictions and seeks for an explanation, there is none forthcoming. He is told that these things are an “impenetrable mystery,” and that it is harbouring on blasphemy to even question whether these things are true. By such methods the father of lies has kept men in darkness ever since the mystery of iniquity first reared its venomous head in the Christian Church. Is Jesus Christ Truly God? The word “God,” when used with reference to the true God has two applications in the Scriptures. 1. Firstly, it is used as a title with reference to the Supreme Being in the universe, the One who is over all others in authority, the source of all things. 2. Secondly, it is used to refer to the qualities and attributes of divinity. When the word, “God” is used as a title to refer to the supreme Being in the universe, how many Beings, or Persons does it refer to? If the Scriptures are true, then it can refer to one Being only. In this sense, the Father is, “the only true God (John 17:3),” there is but “one God, the Father (1 Cor. 8:6),” there is “none other (God) but He (Mark 12:32),” there is but “one God and Father of all (Eph. 4:6).” These verses clearly declare that the supreme Ruler of the universe, the One who is above all others, barring none, is, God the Father. However, the word “God” is used in "); array_files[128]=new Array(0,1,"http://www.restorationministry.com/books/Mystery%20Demystified/html/mystery-demystified-chap2.html","2007-10-16","32K","chapter 1","",""," chapter 1 The Mystery Demystified Chapter Two Did God Have A Son to Give ? Many Christians today claim that Jesus was not the Son of God until he was conceived by the Holy Spirit in the womb of Mary, or until He was resurrected after His crucifixion (Rom. 1:4). Does this claim bear the test of close investigation? Is this conclusion a reasonable one in light of all the facts? Jesus, as well as the entire New Testament reveals that Gods love was supremely manifested when He gave His “only begotten Son” for men. For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. (John 3:16) Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins. (1 John 4:10) Let us pause to think about this. God wants men to appreciate how much He loves them. His whole purpose from the beginning of the world has been to reveal the degree of His love for mankind. When He finally unveiled the fullness of His love in all its splendor for the universe to see, it was in the act of sending someone to earth to die for men. In this action of sending this person, God revealed His love in a way that it had never been seen before and would never again be equaled in all eternity. A Vital Question There are two vital questions which we need to ask ourselves. the first one is, who was this person that God sent? This question is critical because if the sending of this person is the key factor in the revelation of Gods love, then it must be clear that the key question is, “What was the relationship between this person and God?” Let me illustrate my point. If John 3:16 had read, “God so loved the world that He gave an angel whom He created….” or, “God so loved the world that He gave His friend….” Would the action really have impressed us with the fact that Gods love for us is very great? Men would have understood if God had claimed to have given an angel. We would have comprehended it if God had claimed to have gi "); array_files[129]=new Array(0,1,"http://www.restorationministry.com/books/Mystery%20Demystified/html/mystery-demystified-appendix.html","2007-10-16","29K","Appendix","",""," Appendix The Mystery Demystified Appendix The Scriptural Evidence How Many Gods Are There? Mark 12:29,32,34 And Jesus answered him, The first of all the commandments is, Hear, O Israel; The Lord our God is one Lord: { 32 }And the scribe said unto him, Well, Master, thou hast said the truth: for there is one God; and there is none other but he: .... { 34 }And when Jesus saw that he answered discreetly, he said unto him, Thou art not far from the kingdom of God. And no man after that durst ask him any question. 1 Corinthians 8:4 As concerning therefore the eating of those things that are offered in sacrifice unto idols, we know that an idol is nothing in the world, and that there is none other God but one. WHO IS THIS GOD? 1 Corinthians 8:6 But to us there is but one God, the Father, of whom are all things, and we in him; and one Lord Jesus Christ, by whom are all things, and we by him. John 17:3 And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent. Revelation 21:22 And I saw no temple therein: for the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are the temple of it. 1 Corinthians 11:3 But I would have you know, that the head of every man is Christ; and the head of the woman is the man; and the head of Christ is God. Ephesians 4:6 One God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all. 1 Timothy 2:5 For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus; 2 Corinthians 1:3 Blessed be God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies, and the God of all comfort; 1 Corinthians 15:24-28 Then cometh the end, when he shall have delivered up the kingdom to God, even the Father; when he shall have put down all rule and all authority and power. {25} For he must reign, till he hath put all enemies under his feet. { 26 } The last enemy that shall be destroyed is death. { 27 } For he hath put all things under his feet. But when he saith all things are put under him, it is manifest that he is excepted, which did put "); array_files[130]=new Array(0,1,"http://www.restorationministry.com/books/Mystery%20Demystified/html/mystery-demystified-chap1.html","2007-10-16","20K","chapter 1","",""," chapter 1 The Mystery Demystified Chapter one Who Is God? How Many Gods There is only one God. This is a clear biblical truth. Both the Old and the New Testaments declare this fact in unmistakable language (Deut. 6:4; Mark 12:29). Every single person who holds the Bible as supreme authority acknowledges this truth. The biblical insistence on monotheism requires that God be defined as a unit. As a He. There is only one of Him. Paul stated: • “…there is but one God,…” (1 Cor 8:6) • “ For there is one God,” (1 Tim 2:5) James says: • Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble. (James 2:19) Jesus says: • “… The first of all the commandments is, Hear, O Israel; The Lord our God is one Lord:” (Mark 12:29) HOW Did ONE GOD BECOME THREE PERSONS? The Bible also clearly teaches the divine nature of Jesus and the Holy Spirit as well as the Father (John 1:1; 1 Cor.3:16). how can this be reconciled with the fact that there is only ONE God? At the council of Nicea in 325 AD theologians argued over this question, and there, laid the groundwork for the doctrine of the Trinity by declaring that Jesus was God. (see chap. 6) At a later council in Constantinople in 381 AD, they decided that the holy spirit was also God, and formulated the doctrine of the Trinity which has remained with us (with slight modifications) ever since. This doctrine says that instead of the word “God,” referring to a single great, almighty individual who is Lord over all, it really refers to a divine “substance.” A mysterious entity which is made up of three parts, Father, Son and Holy Ghost, all three together making up God. This is the popular concept of the Trinity which was formulated by the Catholic Church and which has been embraced by the majority of Christian denominations. THE HISTORICAL CONCEPT OF THE TRINITY The doctrine as finally formulated teaches that the word “God” really refers to a single substance or Being. This substance manifests Himself (itself) as three Persons, Father, Son and Holy Gh "); array_files[131]=new Array(0,4,"http://www.restorationministry.com/Open_Face/html/pdf/openface-56.pdf","2007-10-16","626K"," Open Face 56b.p65","","","2 Cor. 3;18 Open Face SEPT 2007 One interest will prevail, one subject will swallow up all others. Christ our Righteousness No. 56 Europe 2007 David Clayton was only an hour and a half away from Erwins home. They had been able to obtain this place at a reasonable rate, but as it turned out, the location was not the best as many people decided not to attend because it was not centrally located and it was too far for them to travel. However, we did have 37 persons attending and most of them were eaErwin baptizing Russian sister in Germany ger to hear more of the message of Christ and His righteousness. s preparations were made for the trip to Europe this year, the I felt Howards absence more keenly plan was that brother Howard than ever because it turned out that he Williams should accompany me and we and I had been scheduled as the main prepared accordingly. Everything was speakers at the campmeeting and since put in place, we obtained the neces- there was no one else available to fill sary visas, purchased the tickets and his speaking slots at such short notice, prepared to go. The meetings in the I was informed that I would have to various places were planned with this preach twice as many sermons as I in mind. But four days before our had originally planned! This kept me scheduled departure, Howards father very busy, preparing and preaching, but died. He had been ailing for a long time the Lord never left it up to me, He aland it was not really a shock, but com- ways did the preparation and the preing at this time, it completely threw our sentation and it turned out that the fifplans out. Howard had to change his teen sermons which I presented were mind about coming to Europe and it all blessed by Him. turned out that I made the trip alone. It would have been a blow to lose the In every place and in every age, there money for Howards ticket which we have been those who have risen up had already paid for, but we found out against the message and this has been that we would be able to get a refund true in Germa "); array_files[132]=new Array(0,1,"http://www.restorationministry.com/Open_Face/html/56-sept07-nav.htm","2007-10-16","1K","Contents","",""," Contents Open Face No. 56 Sept 2007 Home Newsletter Menu PDF Version In this issue: Europe A Brother Reconsiders A Problem of nature Letters Life & Death in the Williams family Publisher Information "); array_files[133]=new Array(0,1,"http://www.restorationministry.com/Open_Face/html/56-sept07-frameset.htm","2007-10-16","0K","Openface 52","",""," Openface 52 frameset rows=* cols=210,* framespacing=5 frameborder=yes border=5 bordercolor=#993300 frame src=56-sept07-nav.htm name=navFrame scrolling=auto noresize id=navFrame frame src=56-sept07-content.htm name=Contentframe scrolling=yes id=Contentframe noframes "); array_files[134]=new Array(0,1,"http://www.restorationministry.com/Open_Face/html/56-sept07-content.htm","2007-10-16","58K","Open Face 56","",""," Open Face 56 Open Face No 56- Sept 2007 Europe 2007 As preparations were made for the trip to Europe this year, the plan was that brother Howard Williams should accompany me and we prepared accordingly. Everything was put in place, we obtained the necessary visas, purchased the tickets and prepared to go. The meetings in the various places were planned with this in mind. But four days before our scheduled departure, Howards father died. He had been ailing for a long time and it was not really a shock, but coming at this time, it completely threw our plans out. Howard had to change his mind about coming to Europe and it turned out that I made the trip alone. It would have been a blow to lose the money for Howards ticket which we had already paid for, but we found out that we would be able to get a refund if we could produce a death certificate for his father. Germany The first stop was Germany where it was good to see Erwin and his family again. The campmeeting this year was to be at a place called Neudorf which was only an hour and a half away from Erwins home. They had been able to obtain this place at a reasonable rate, but as it turned out, the location was not the best as many people decided not to attend because it was not centrally located and it was too far for them to travel. However, we did have 37 persons attending and most of them were eager to hear more of the message of Christ and His righteousness. I felt Howards absence more keenly than ever because it turned out that he and I had been scheduled as the main speakers at the campmeeting and since there was no one else available to fill his speaking slots at such short notice, I was informed that I would have to preach twice as many sermons as I had originally planned! This kept me very busy, preparing and preaching, but the Lord never left it up to me, He always did the preparation and the presentation and it turned out that the fifteen sermons which I presented were all blessed by Him. In every place and in every age, there have been those who ha "); array_files[135]=new Array(0,1,"http://www.restorationministry.com/Open_Face/html/55-july07-frameset.html","2007-08-01","0K","Openface 52","",""," Openface 52 frameset rows=* cols=210,* framespacing=5 frameborder=yes border=5 bordercolor=#993300 frame src=55-july07-nav.html name=navFrame scrolling=auto noresize id=navFrame frame src=55-july07-content.html name=Contentframe scrolling=yes id=Contentframe noframes "); array_files[136]=new Array(0,1,"http://www.restorationministry.com/Open_Face/html/55-july07-nav.html","2007-08-01","1K","Contents","",""," Contents Open Face No. 55 July 2007 Home Newsletter Menu PDF Version In this issue: An End of Sins The Final Atonement Under The Law Publisher Information "); array_files[137]=new Array(0,1,"http://www.restorationministry.com/Open_Face/html/55-july07-content.html","2007-08-01","65K","Open Face 55","",""," Open Face 55 Open Face No 55- July 2007 An End of Sins David Clayton One doctrine which I have believed in for the past thirty-two years is the doctrine of the “Final Atonement.” This is a teaching which is unique to the Seventh-day Adventist movement and is one which I believe has a solid biblical foundation. As we have focused on Righteousness by Faith over the past two years, there has been concern in some circles that our understanding of Righteousness by Faith does away with this concept of the final atonement. If the Bible led me in this direction then I would have to accept it. But does the truth of righteousness in Christ do away with the truth of the final atonement? This is a very important question and will be our main focus in this edition of Open face. ============================================================================= Recently I was reading from.Daniel 9:24 and I stated that this verse applied to the work which Christ would do. Somebody said to me, “how do you know this is speaking about Christ?” Let us look at what the verse says: “ Seventy weeks are determined upon thy people and upon thy holy city, to finish the transgression, and to make an end of sins, and to make reconciliation for iniquity, and to bring in everlasting righteousness, and to seal up the vision and prophecy, and to anoint the most Holy.” (Dan 9:24) Who is this prophecy referring to? It says, “seventy weeks are determined upon thy people.” Since Daniels people were the Jews, then it is clear that this was talking about the Jews. I am sure this prophecy is familiar to most of us reading this article. We know that these seventy weeks referred to a period of time which God allotted to the Jews, and that this seventy weeks (which were actually 490 years) came to an end in AD 34. Adventists believe that when Stephen was stoned to death in that year, that this marked the end of the seventy weeks that God gave to the Jews in which all these things were to be fulfilled. For many years I held to the belief that what God was s "); array_files[138]=new Array(0,4,"http://www.restorationministry.com/Open_Face/html/pdf/openface-55.pdf","2007-08-01","294K"," Open Face 55.p65","","","2 Cor. 3;18 Open Face JULY 2007 One interest will prevail, one subject will swallow up all others, Christ our Righteousness.(Paulson Collection - p. 342) No. 55 An End of Sins David Clayton the verse says: Seventy weeks are determined u p o n thy people and upon thy holy city, to finish the transgression, and to make an end of sins, a n d to make reconciliation for iniquity, and to bring in everlasting righteousness, and to seal up the vision and prophecy, and to anoint the most Holy. (Dan 9:24) Who is this prophecy referring to? It says, seventy weeks are determined u p o n thy people. Since Daniels people were the Jews, then it is clear that this was talking about the Jews. I am sure this prophecy is familiar to most of us reading this article. We know that these seventy weeks referred to a period of time which God allotted to the Jews, and that this seventy weeks (which were actually 490 y e a r s ) came to an end in AD 34. Adventists believe that when Stephen was stoned to death in that year, that this marked the end of the seventy weeks that God gave to the Jews in which all these things were to be fulfilled. For many years I held to the belief that what God was saying was that during this seventy weeks period of time, the Jews were supposed to stop committing sin, to stop transgressing Gods laws and to become everlastingly righteous. But as I look at the prophecy carefully today, I realize that this cannot be correct. Let us look especially at one of the things which was to happen which it was impossible for the Jews as a people to accomplish: It says that reconciliation should be made for iniquity. Look at that phrase. There is only one person in the universe who can make reconciliation for iniquity. That person is Jesus Christ. No ordinary man, no nation, no people can do this, Christ alone could fulfil this prophecy. This prophecy was speaking of the work which Christ was to do. Here again are the things which were to be done by the end of the Seventy weeks: a. A finishing of transgression b. An end o "); array_files[139]=new Array(0,1,"http://www.restorationministry.com/video/matti's%20testimony.htm","2007-07-03","1K","Mattis Testimony","",""," Mattis Testimony Mattis Testimony DOWNLOAD "); array_files[140]=new Array(0,1,"http://www.restorationministry.com/video/Songs/the-nazarene.htm","2007-07-01","1K","The Nazarene","",""," The Nazarene The Nazarene DOWNLOAD "); array_files[141]=new Array(0,1,"http://www.restorationministry.com/video/Songs/there%20will%20never%20be.htm","2007-07-01","1K","There Will Never be Another","",""," There Will Never be Another There Will Never be Another DOWNLOAD "); array_files[142]=new Array(0,1,"http://www.restorationministry.com/video/Songs/jesus-opened-up-the-way.htm","2007-07-01","1K","Jesus Christ the Lord","",""," Jesus Christ the Lord Jesus Christ the Lord DOWNLOAD "); array_files[143]=new Array(0,1,"http://www.restorationministry.com/video/Songs/Id%20rather%20live.htm","2007-07-01","1K","Id Rather Live in the Valley","",""," Id Rather Live in the Valley Id Rather Live in The Valley DOWNLOAD "); array_files[144]=new Array(0,1,"http://www.restorationministry.com/video/Songs/gimme-water.htm","2007-07-01","1K","Gimme Water from the Well","",""," Gimme Water from the Well Gimme Water From the Well DOWNLOAD "); array_files[145]=new Array(0,1,"http://www.restorationministry.com/video/finding-life.htm","2007-07-01","1K","Finding Life Through Death","",""," Finding Life Through Death Finding Life Through Death DOWNLOAD "); array_files[146]=new Array(0,1,"http://www.restorationministry.com/video/relative-perfection.htm","2007-06-30","1K","Relative Perfection","",""," Relative Perfection Relative Perfection DOWNLOAD "); array_files[147]=new Array(0,1,"http://www.restorationministry.com/video/no-other-gods.htm","2007-06-30","1K","No other gods before Me","",""," No other gods before Me No other gods before Me DOWNLOAD "); array_files[148]=new Array(0,1,"http://www.restorationministry.com/video/surrender.htm","2007-06-30","1K","Surrender","",""," Surrender Surrender DOWNLOAD "); array_files[149]=new Array(0,1,"http://www.restorationministry.com/video/lawful-use-of-the-law.htm","2007-06-30","1K","The Lawful Use of The Law","",""," The Lawful Use of The Law The Lawful Use of The Law DOWNLOAD "); array_files[150]=new Array(0,1,"http://www.restorationministry.com/video/in-christ.htm","2007-06-30","1K","In Christ","",""," In Christ In Christ DOWNLOAD "); array_files[151]=new Array(0,1,"http://www.restorationministry.com/video/the-new-creation.htm","2007-06-29","1K","Untitled Document","",""," Untitled Document The New Creation DOWNLOAD "); array_files[152]=new Array(0,1,"http://www.restorationministry.com/video/judgment-of-christ.htm","2007-06-29","1K","Untitled Document","",""," Untitled Document The Judgment of Christ DOWNLOAD "); array_files[153]=new Array(0,1,"http://www.restorationministry.com/video/is-perfection-good-enough.htm","2007-06-29","1K","Untitled Document","",""," Untitled Document Is Perfection Good Enough? DOWNLOAD "); array_files[154]=new Array(0,1,"http://www.restorationministry.com/video/goal-of-the-law.htm","2007-06-29","1K","Untitled Document","",""," Untitled Document The Goal of The Law DOWNLOAD "); array_files[155]=new Array(0,1,"http://www.restorationministry.com/video/a-people-without-a-king.htm","2007-06-29","1K","Untitled Document","",""," Untitled Document A People Without a King DOWNLOAD "); array_files[156]=new Array(0,1,"http://www.restorationministry.com/video/google-videos/faith-and-works.html","2007-06-29","0K","Faith and Works","",""," Faith and Works Faith and Works "); array_files[157]=new Array(0,1,"http://www.restorationministry.com/books/atjones/some-history-experience-and-facts.htm","2007-06-10","82K","Some History, Experience and Facts","",""," Some History, Experience and Facts PDF version Some History, Experience and Facts Alonzo Trevier Jones A Statement by Elder A. T. Jones. The regular monthly meeting of the Sanitarium family, in the Sanitarium Chapel, Battle Creek, Mich., Sunday, March 4,1906, 8:00 p.m. I can safely appeal to the whole Sanitarium family to witness that since I came here two years ago last November, I have not at any time in any meeting, or in any class, discussed or dwelt upon the controversy that has been carried on from General Conference sources. My address in the tabernacle the night of January 2, is the first time that I have spoken on the subject. All who are here now, who were here when I came will remember that when I came I said to the whole family that we here should have nothing to do with that matter; that we have a work to do, and that we could not afford to abandon or neglect that work to engage in controversy of any kind; that we could spend our time far better in studying the Bible and sticking close to the work that God has given us to do, than we could in discussing differences or in defending ourselves against attack or even in trying to correct false reports. All of that is true yet; except that now the time has come when we cannot be true to the truth and continue completely silent on these matters. Tonight I wish to state the case as it is so far; and why it is that I must speak. The great part of what I shall say to you has been already said to General Conference brethren, and to Brother Daniells and some others. Nowhere in it is there, or will there be any purpose to attack anybody; nor any attempt to discredit anyone; or to put anyone in the wrong. I have some facts of history to state and some facts of experience. I make no objections to anyones doing or having done any of the things to which I do not agree. My sole purpose is to tell why I cannot do so. Also I should say that so far as I am concerned and as to anything that shall be said to-night, there is no question at all and no issue at all as to "); array_files[158]=new Array(0,1,"http://www.restorationministry.com/books/atjones/an-appeal-for-evangelical-christianity.htm","2007-06-10","119K","An Appeal for Evangelical Christianity","",""," An Appeal for Evangelical Christianity PDF version An Appeal for Evangelical Christianity Alonzo Trevier Jones This appeal is printed in response to many calls from all parts of the country. It has not the “Imprimatur” of any ecclesiastical official superior, nor the “Imprint” of any “regular” publishing house. It does not need any; for it is the truth; as any one can know who cares to know only the truth. Besides, since the whole delegation of the S.D.A. General Conference listened for nearly two hours to the reading of it, this ought to be sufficient surety that all others are at equal liberty to read it for themselves. Presented before the General Conference of Seventh-day Adventists at Takoma Park, Washington, D.C., May 27, 1909. To the General Conference of the Seventh-day Adventists in session assembled: Greeting: “Perfect peace and at such a time.” I have appealed and do herein appeal from the procedure, the process and the action of your Executive Committee in council assembled at Gland, Switzerland, May 10-24, 1907: and from that decision and action as worded in a communication to me dated June 17, 1907, and published officially in the Review and Herald, June 27, 1907. I do this because the form of organization of the Seventh-day Adventist denomination, of which this conference in session is the culmination, requires in justice that I should do it. As to form of organization, yours is a governmental system; as one Conference president defined it, “a politic system.” You have “a constitution” and “by-laws.” You have an “administration.” You have “administration headquarters,” etc. According to your form of organization the Executive Committee is appointed by you, to conduct your affairs between your sessions. In form, therefore, as well as on principle, the Executive Committee is your creature, subordinate to you in every respect. Therefore on principle no decision or action of this committee can be considered as absolute and final. On principle, and under your form of organization, every decision and "); array_files[159]=new Array(0,4,"http://www.restorationministry.com/books/atjones/Some%20history,%20experience%20&%20Facts.pdf","2007-06-10","90K"," Some history, experience & Facts.p65","","","Some History, Experience and Facts by Alonzo T. Jones 1 SOME HISTORY, EXPERIENCE, AND FACTS by A. T. JONES A Statement by Elder A. T. Jones. The regular monthly meeting of the Sanitarium family, in the Sanitarium Chapel, Battle Creek, Mich., Sunday, March 4,1906, 8:00 p.m. I can safely appeal to the whole Sanitarium family to witness that since I came here two years ago last November, I have not at any time in any meeting, or in any class, discussed or dwelt upon the controversy that has been carried on from General Conference sources. My address in the tabernacle the night of January 2, is the first time that I have spoken on the subject. All who are here now, who were here when I came will remember that when I came I said to the whole family that we here should have nothing to do with that matter; that we have a work to do, and that we could not afford to abandon or neglect that work to engage in controversy of any kind; that we could spend our time far better in studying the Bible and sticking close to the work that God has given us to do, than we could in discussing differences or in defending ourselves against attack or even in trying to correct false reports. All of that is true yet; except that now the time has come when we cannot be true to the truth and continue completely silent on these matters. Tonight I wish to state the case as it is so far; and why it is that I must speak. The great part of what I shall say to you has been already said to General Conference brethren, and to Brother Daniells and some others. Nowhere in it is there, or will there be any purpose to attack anybody; nor any attempt to discredit anyone; or to put anyone in the wrong. I have some facts of history to state and some facts of experience. I make no objections to anyones doing or having done any of the things to which I do not agree. My sole purpose is to tell why I cannot do so. Also I should say that so far as I am concerned and as to anything that shall be said to-night, there is no question at all and no issue at all as "); array_files[160]=new Array(0,4,"http://www.restorationministry.com/books/atjones/An%20Appeal%20for%20Evangelical%20Christianity.pdf","2007-06-10","138K"," An Appeal for Evangelical Christianity.p65","","","An Appeal for Evangelical Christianity by Alonzo T. Jones 1 An Appeal for Evangelical Christianity by Alonzo T. Jones This appeal is printed in response to many calls from all parts of the country. It has not the Imprimatur of any ecclesiastical official superior, nor the Imprint of any regular publishing house. It does not need any; for it is the truth; as any one can know who cares to know only the truth. Besides, since the whole delegation of the S.D.A. General Conference listened for nearly two hours to the reading of it, this ought to be sufficient surety that all others are at equal liberty to read it for themselves. Presented before the General Conference of Seventh-day Adventists at Takoma Park, Washington, D.C., May 27, 1909. To the General Conference of the Seventh-day Adventists in session assembled: Greeting: Perfect peace and at such a time. I have appealed and do herein appeal from the procedure, the process and the action of your Executive Committee in council assembled at Gland, Switzerland, May 10-24, 1907: and from that decision and action as worded in a communication to me dated June 17, 1907, and published officially in the Review and Herald, June 27, 1907. I do this because the form of organization of the Seventh-day Adventist denomination, of which this conference in session is the culmination, requires in justice that I should do it. As to form of organization, yours is a governmental system; as one Conference president defined it, a politic system. You have a constitution and by-laws. You have an administration. You have administration headquarters, etc. According to your form of organization the Executive Committee is appointed by you, to conduct your affairs between your sessions. In form, therefore, as well as on principle, the Executive Committee is your creature, subordinate to you in every respect. Therefore on principle no decision or action of this committee can be considered as absolute and final. On principle, and under your form of organization, every decision and every actio "); array_files[161]=new Array(0,4,"http://www.restorationministry.com/books/atjones/this-is-the-church.pdf","2007-06-07","91K"," This Is The Church.p65","","","THIS IS THE CHURCH By Alonzo T. Jones ECUMENISM AND BIBLICAL ECCLESIOLOGY VOLUME III 1 CHRISTIAN UNITY Christian Unity is always among the Christian things that are of the greatest importance. Yet while Christian Unity is in itself of great importance, to know what it is, is of greater importance. This is because to desire, and to strive for, and to promote, as Christian Unity what is not Christian Unity at all is a most dangerous mistake and an immense loss. Much of just this has been done, and much of it is being done just now as a part of the several great movements in and by the churches that are now being urged. In studying Christian Unity for what it really is, it will be helpful first of all plainly to state what it is not. One of the clearest expressions of what it is not is the following prodigiously false statement of what it is: 1. Unity of doctrine and faith, which consists in the common accord of all the Faithful in admitting and believing all that the teaching church proposes to them as revealed or confirmed by Jesus Christ. 2. Unity of government, which produces unity of communion, and which consists in the submission of all the Faithful to their respective bishops and in particular to the Roman Pontiff, supreme Head of the church. Yet utterly false and Romish as all of that is, take away from it only the part that pertains to the Roman Pontiff, and it fairly expresses the view of every denomination in the world as to what is Christian Unity. But Christian Unity is altogether another thing than is any of that; and is as far higher than all of that as Heaven is higher than the earth. Uniting of Christians upon doctrine, is not Christian Unity. Agreement of Christians in belief, is not Christian Unity. Uniting or agreeing of Christians upon a platform or statement of belief, or of doctrine, or of principles, is not Christian Unity. Uniting of Christians in an agreed assent and submission to an order of church organization or church-government, is not Christian Unity. Union of purpose or of effort "); array_files[162]=new Array(0,1,"http://www.restorationministry.com/books/atjones/this-is-the-church.htm","2007-06-07","60K","This is The Church","",""," This is The Church PDF version This Is The Church Alonzo Trevier Jones CHRISTIAN UNITY Christian Unity is always among the Christian things that are of the greatest importance. Yet while Christian Unity is in itself of great importance, to know what it is, is of greater importance. This is because to desire, and to strive for, and to promote, as Christian Unity what is not Christian Unity at all is a most dangerous mistake and an immense loss. Much of just this has been done, and much of it is being done just now as a part of the several great “movements” in and by the churches that are now being urged. In studying Christian Unity for what it really is, it will be helpful first of all plainly to state what it is not. One of the clearest expressions of what it is not is the following prodigiously false statement of what it is: “1. Unity of doctrine and faith, which consists in the common accord of all the Faithful in admitting and believing all that the teaching church proposes to them as revealed or confirmed by Jesus Christ. “2. Unity of government, which produces unity of communion, and which consists in the submission of all the Faithful to their respective bishops and in particular to the Roman Pontiff, supreme Head of the church.” Yet utterly false and Romish as all of that is, take away from it only the part that pertains to “the Roman Pontiff,” and it fairly expresses the view of every denomination in the world as to what is Christian Unity. But Christian Unity is altogether another thing than is any of that; and is as far higher than all of that as Heaven is higher than the earth. Uniting of Christians upon doctrine, is not Christian Unity. Agreement of Christians in belief, is not Christian Unity. Uniting or agreeing of Christians upon a platform or statement of belief, or of doctrine, or of principles, is not Christian Unity. Uniting of Christians in an agreed assent and submission to an order of church organization or church-government, is not Christian Unity. Union of purpose or of effort of Christ "); array_files[163]=new Array(0,4,"http://www.restorationministry.com/books/atjones/the-greater-purpose.pdf","2007-06-07","145K"," The Greater Purpose.p65","","","THE GREATER PURPOSE By Alonzo T. Jones ECUMENISM AND BIBLICAL ECCLESIOLOGY VOLUME II 1 2 THE GREATER PURPOSE By Alonzo T. Jones Reprinted By Restoration Ministries P.O. Box 23, Knockpatrick Manchester, Jamaica W.I. Phone (876) 904-7392 or 904-9326 3 4 THE GREATER PURPOSE In the calling out of Babylon of old time there was a greater purpose than only that of their being out of Babylon. And so it is now. This was suggested in the instruction to let Jerusalem come into your mind. To be out of Babylon was great and is great; yet to be in Gods purpose for Jerusalem, was then and is now far greater than that -- even though that be the essential preliminary to this. Jerusalem and the temple of God were to be rebuilt, and the pure worship of God as appointed was to be restored in the world for the blessing and salvation of the nations: and this to tell of the true, the heavenly, the spiritual Jerusalem and Temple and worship. And so it is now: except that now it is the true, the heavenly, the spiritual itself that is to be restored and established forevermore. And the lessons of the story of that other one, are for our admonition and instruction now. Hence this line of study upon which we now are entered is one of the greatest and deepest in all the Bible. In that experience of old, the great mass of the people, even of those who came out of Babylon and to Jerusalem, never saw this greater purpose in what they were doing: and this because they did not study the Scriptures, and did not hearken even to the living prophets in their own day. Yet is was all in fulfillment of the Scriptures that they were out of Babylon and at Jerusalem at all. This much they could recognize and be thankful for; but the great purpose of all this, and the deeper and spiritual things of the Scriptures, they were willing not to know; and so were willing to drift along and back, and miss all. And so it is now. Therefore we must study the Scriptures on this subject. THE RETURN The seventy years of captivity in Babylon expired 536 B. C., the f "); array_files[164]=new Array(0,1,"http://www.restorationministry.com/books/atjones/the-greater-purpose.htm","2007-06-07","106K","The Greater Purpose","",""," The Greater Purpose PDF version The Greater Purpose Alonzo Trevier Jones In the calling out of Babylon of old time there was a greater purpose than only that of their being out of Babylon. And so it is now. This was suggested in the instruction to “let Jerusalem come into your mind.” To be out of Babylon was great and is great; yet to be in Gods purpose for Jerusalem, was then and is now far greater than that — even though that be the essential preliminary to this. Jerusalem and the temple of God were to be rebuilt, and the pure worship of God as appointed was to be restored in the world for the blessing and salvation of the nations: and this to tell of the true, the heavenly, the spiritual Jerusalem and Temple and worship. And so it is now: except that now it is the true, the heavenly, the spiritual itself that is to be restored and established forevermore. And the lessons of the story of that other one, are for our admonition and instruction now. Hence this line of study upon which we now are entered is one of the greatest and deepest in all the Bible. In that experience of old, the great mass of the people, even of those who came out of Babylon and to Jerusalem, never saw this greater purpose in what they were doing: and this because they did not study the Scriptures, and did not hearken even to the living prophets in their own day. Yet is was all in fulfillment of the Scriptures that they were out of Babylon and at Jerusalem at all. This much they could recognize and be thankful for; but the great purpose of all this, and the deeper and spiritual things of the Scriptures, they were willing not to know; and so were willing to drift along and back, and miss all. And so it is now. Therefore we must study the Scriptures on this subject. THE RETURN The seventy years of captivity in Babylon expired 536 B. C., the first year of the reign of Cyrus the king of Media and Persia. A hundred and seventy-six years before this, Isaiah had written the word of the Lord “to Cyrus” that he should “let go my captives, not for "); array_files[165]=new Array(0,4,"http://www.restorationministry.com/books/atjones/from-babylon-to-new-jerusalem.pdf","2007-06-07","83K"," From Babylon to New Jerusalem2.P65","","","FROM BABYLON TO NEW JERUSALEM By Alonzo T. Jones ECUMENISM AND BIBLICAL ECCLESIOLOGY VOLUME I 1 2 FROM BABYLON TO NEW JERUSALEM By Alonzo T. Jones Reprinted By Restoration Ministries P.O. Box 23, Knockpatrick Manchester, Jamaica W.I. Phone (876) 904-7392 or 904-9326 3 4 FROM BABYLON TO NEW JERUSALEM 1 THE Babylon of the Bible reaches from almost the beginning of the Bible to almost the end of it. In principle, and in spirit, and in development, it is the same Babylon all the way through. What on the surface appears to be two Babylons, is strictly and truly the same Babylon repeating itself: two manifestations of the same Babylon. Thus the Babylon that stands out apparent, whether anciently or at the last, is only a product of the forces that are back of all, and that are the real Babylon. And that which produces the open Babylon is the working of the spiritual and intellectual forces of the natural world. There is the spring of all that ever appears openly as Babylon: there, in these forces and their working is the real Babylon. It must ever be borne in mind that the very first word in the permanent divine inscription that is expressive of ultimate Babylon, is MYSTERY. That characteristic is strictly hers all the way from the original to the ultimate Babylon: under that telling word, Babylon must ever be studied. Let us start with the origin of Babylon: And the whole earth was of one language and of one speech. And it came to pass, as they journeyed eastward, that they found a plain in the land of Shinar: and they dwelt there. And they said Come, let us build a city and a tower whose top may reach unto heaven: And let us make us a name, lest we be scattered abroad on the face of the earth. Genesis 11:14. The first element, in this enterprise that developed Babylon, is pride -- Let us make us a name. And this characteristic goes with her all the way: it is she. And when the truth of her is plainly told, it is that she is the most proud, O thou most proud and how much she hath glorified herself. Jeremiah 50:3 "); array_files[166]=new Array(0,1,"http://www.restorationministry.com/books/atjones/babylon-newjerusalem.htm","2007-06-07","48K","Babylon to New Jerusalem","",""," Babylon to New Jerusalem PDF version FROM BABYLON TO NEW JERUSALEM Alonzo Trevier Jones 1 THE Babylon of the Bible reaches from almost the beginning of the Bible to almost the end of it. In principle, and in spirit, and in development, it is the same Babylon all the way through. What on the surface appears to be two Babylons, is strictly and truly the same Babylon repeating itself: two manifestations of the same Babylon. Thus the Babylon that stands out apparent, whether anciently or at the last, is only a product of the forces that are back of all, and that are the real Babylon. And that which produces the open Babylon is the working of the spiritual and intellectual forces of the natural world. There is the spring of all that ever appears openly as Babylon: there, in these forces and their working is the real Babylon. It must ever be borne in mind that the very first word in the permanent divine inscription that is expressive of ultimate Babylon, is MYSTERY. That characteristic is strictly hers all the way from the original to the ultimate Babylon: under that telling word, Babylon must ever be studied. Let us start with the origin of Babylon: “And the whole earth was of one language and of one speech. And it came to pass, as they journeyed eastward, that they found a plain in the land of Shinar: and they dwelt there. And they said Come, let us build a city and a tower whose top may reach unto heaven: And let us make us a name, lest we be scattered abroad on the face of the earth.” Genesis 11:14. The first element, in this enterprise that developed Babylon, is pride — Let us make us a name. And this characteristic goes with her all the way: it is she. And when the truth of her is plainly told, it is that she is “the most proud,” “O thou most proud” and “how much she hath glorified herself.” Jeremiah 50:31, 32; Revelation 18:7. And it is a supremely selfish and exclusive pride: “I am and none else beside me.” Isaiah 47:8, 10. And this pride manifests itself especially against the Lord: “She hath been proud aga "); array_files[167]=new Array(0,1,"http://www.restorationministry.com/studies/feast-days/should-christians-observe.htm","2007-06-07","55K","No Marvel","",""," No Marvel Should Christians Observe The Feast-days? David Clayton I like to live at peace with my brethren and I want everyone who reads to understand that I am not writing with the intention of hurting or antagonizing brethren or belittling their beliefs. Please believe me when I say that my only reason for writing on this subject is my conviction that what I have to say is important because it deals with the issue of our witness as Christians and perhaps may even be critical to our salvation. With this in mind I am asking you to read this article very carefully and to give prayerful consideration to the points which are presented. In recent times the issue of feast keeping has become a much debated one in Seventh-day Adventist circles. It seems that there are a significant number of sincere Christians who are presently examining this question and that a high percentage of them are concluding that the feasts of Israel ought still to be literally observed by Christians today. The Worldwide Church of God, founded by Herbert W. Armstrong, advocated the keeping of these feast-days for decades, but it was not until fairly recent times that this belief began to take hold on people within the ranks of Adventism. Now, no less a person than Adventist scholar Samuele Bacchiochi has concluded that the feasts ought to be kept and has given strength and impetus to the feast days movement by writing a couple of books in support of feast keeping. I myself have received letters and literature and have also had talks with people who seem to feel that the necessity of keeping the feasts is so clearly taught by the Bible that every reasonable person ought to be able to see it. I must say, however, that my own study of the subject has not persuaded me that God requires His people to observe the feast days today. Hundreds of Christian groups exist today with hundreds of conflicting beliefs, yet all claiming to base their beliefs on the same Bible. It is therefore extremely important that as we study the word of God we seek most e "); array_files[168]=new Array(0,1,"http://www.restorationministry.com/studies/does-god-kill/the-issues.htm","2007-06-07","35K","The Issues","",""," The Issues The Issues Involved Among the many strange, and in some cases, new doctrines which have appeared on the horizon of Seventh-day Adventism during its short history, is a doctrine which has been referred to as the character of God message by those who embrace it. Most others know it better as the doctrine which teaches that God does not kill. Those who have accepted it declare that this message is the end-time message and is the ultimate understanding of Gods character. Others see it as a dangerous doctrine which undermines the very basis of Christian faith, the trustworthiness of the Scriptures. Specifically, this teaching says that God Himself never ever, under any circumstances, personally takes or removes the life of any creature. It says He may allow others to do it, He may accept the blame for it, but He Himself never is the agent or the cause which removes life. What this means is that every place in the Bible where it says that God killed or destroyed or took a life, is not to be believed the way it reads, but must be reinterpreted to fit this doctrine. So then we would have to accept that God never caused the great flood in Noahs day, never destroyed Sodom & Gomorrah, never slew Korah, Dathan and Abiram, never destroyed Pharaohs army in the Red Sea, etc. etc. The reasoning behind this belief is that God cannot break His own laws. The Sixth Commandment says, “Thou shalt not kill.” These laws are not simply a set of rules, but are actually a revelation of Gods character; a description of what God is really like. Therefore, the reasoning goes, God cannot deny His own character. Since, “Thou shalt not kill,” describes what He is like and reveals His nature, then we must accept that it is contrary to Gods character and nature to kill. Thus, we end up with the doctrine, “God Does Not Kill.” HOW SHALL WE UNDERSTAND THE BIBLE? This doctrine compels us to focus on the issue of whether or not the Bible is the dependable word of God. It has been made out to be an issue concerning the character of God "); array_files[169]=new Array(0,1,"http://www.restorationministry.com/studies/does-god-kill/scripture-references.htm","2007-06-07","6K","Some Scripture References","",""," Some Scripture References Some Scripture References (2 Tim 3:16) All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: (Exo 20:21-22) And the people stood afar off, and Moses drew near unto the thick darkness where God was. {22} And the LORD said unto Moses, Thus thou shalt say unto the children of Israel, Ye have seen that I have talked with you from heaven..... (Exo 21:14-17) But if a man come presumptuously upon his neighbour, to slay him with guile; thou shalt take him from mine altar, that he may die. {15} And he that smiteth his father, or his mother, shall be surely put to death. {16} And he that stealeth a man, and selleth him, or if he be found in his hand, he shall surely be put to death. {17} And he that curseth his father, or his mother, shall surely be put to death. (1 Sam 15:1-3) Samuel also said unto Saul, The LORD sent me to anoint thee to be king over his people, over Israel: now therefore hearken thou unto the voice of the words of the LORD. {2} Thus saith the LORD of hosts, I remember that which Amalek did to Israel, how he laid wait for him in the way, when he came up from Egypt. {3} Now go and smite Amalek, and utterly destroy all that they have, and spare them not; but slay both man and woman, infant and suckling, ox and sheep, camel and ass. (1 Sam 15:9-11) But Saul and the people spared Agag, and the best of the sheep, and of the oxen, and of the fatlings, and the lambs, and all that was good, and would not utterly destroy them: but every thing that was vile and refuse, that they destroyed utterly. {10} Then came the word of the LORD unto Samuel, saying, {11} It repenteth me that I have set up Saul to be king: for he is turned back from following me, and hath not performed my commandments. And it grieved Samuel; and he cried unto the LORD all night. (1 Sam 15:16-19) Then Samuel said unto Saul, Stay, and I will tell thee what the LORD hath said to me this night. And he said unto him, Say on. {17} And S "); array_files[170]=new Array(0,1,"http://www.restorationministry.com/studies/does-god-kill/nomarvel.htm","2007-06-07","21K","No Marvel","",""," No Marvel No Marvel! Brendan Knudson For many years, there has been a teaching which has taken a hold of Adventism which is called by moderate proponents the “Character of God” message, by extreme proponents the “non-violent God” teaching and by many the “God does not kill/destroy” doctrine. There is very little harmony across the board within the ranks of its advocates, yet it holds an allure which attracts many an honest seeker. My involvement with this teaching began when a close friend of mine asked me a few times to “set straight” another mutual friend who was advocating it. As I spoke with him, I could never sympathize with his position and found all conversation about it extremely frustrating. I was shocked, however, to see my close friend one day announce that she had become a believer in the message. From then I decided to look more closely at it. I have examined the writings of Elliot ODouglin, M. M. Campbell, Fred Wright and others who have taken a more moderate approach to the subject which actually seeks to harmonize all the Scripture testimony on the subject. For a time, I was very sympathetic to these, what I thought to be “middle of the road” proponents. However, there were still some points that I didnt believe they harmonized, and I was determined to harmonize everything. However, as I began looking at other truths in the light of this, I began to see how narrow my vision was becoming and how this view left out some major considerations. I also saw the fruits of this doctrine, and how some proponents became pantheistic or even moved into Universalism. As the clouds moved from my thinking, I saw that this doctrine was one of the most seductive ever to come to Adventism, for it touches the heart that longs to know more about the God that the Bible says “is love”. However, this doctrine, in every form I have so far seen it, is nothing but Satan, who transforms himself into an “angel of light” in a last ditch effort to deceive. Any truth must not just touch the heart, but the mind also. It must b "); array_files[171]=new Array(0,1,"http://www.restorationministry.com/studies/does-god-kill/fundamental-questions.htm","2007-06-07","16K","Some Fundamental Questions","",""," Some Fundamental Questions Fundamental Questions 1. What are the issues involved in the debate? a. Firstly there is the question of what the character of God is really like. (COL 69) b. Secondly there is the question of what is love really like? How does true love behave? 2. What does The doctrine really teach? a. The Doctrine that God does not kill says that God never ever under any circumstance removes the life of any of His creatures; that such an act is contrary to the character and the will of God; That God never ever moves towards any creature with the intent of causing harm. 3. What is the proper way to approach a Biblical question? a. Should we begin by speculation or reasoning? Should we allow our own ideas of what is right or wrong to determine whether or not we accept what the Bible says? b. We should search the Scriptures and allow them to be the factor which determines what we believe. c. The Bible suggests that we should search ALL the Scriptures, and not just take the four gospels only, when we are seeking to determine what is truth. d. Philosophical or ideological questions must not be answered independently of, or in opposition to Scripture. This is an approach which is fundamentally wrong. Scripture must bear its testimony, exert its authority in the formulation of all our conclusions. This has been the approach of all the people of God in all ages, the only exception being during the time before the Scriptures were written when the prophetic voice and the personal voice of God were the guides which were followed. 4. What approach is taken in establishing the doctrine that God does not kill? a. The nature of the issue is such that one cannot appeal to Scripture in order to settle the matter. In fact, before the doctrine can be accepted, confidence in the dependability of the Scriptures must first be overthrown. A serious warning sign! b. It is significant that the vast majority of persons who have accepted the doctrine did not discover it initially in reading the Bible or the spirit of prophe "); array_files[172]=new Array(0,1,"http://www.restorationministry.com/studies/does-god-kill/ellen-white-quotes.htm","2007-06-07","19K","Ellen White Quotes","",""," Ellen White Quotes Relevant Quotes From Ellen G. White God destroys no man. Everyone who is destroyed will have destroyed himself. Everyone who stifles the admonitions of conscience is sowing the seeds of unbelief, and these will produce a sure harvest. By rejecting the first warning from God, Pharaoh of old sowed the seeds of obstinacy, and he reaped obstinacy. God did not compel him to disbelieve. The seed of unbelief which he sowed produced a harvest of its kind. Thus his resistance continued, until he looked upon his devastated land, upon the cold, dead form of his first-born, and the first-born of all in his house and of all the families in his kingdom, until the waters of the sea closed over his horses and his chariots and his men of war. His history is a fearful illustration of the truth of the words that “whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap.” Gal. 6:7. Did men but realize this, they would be careful what seed they sow. {COL 84-5} God had made it their privilege and their duty to enter the land at the time of His appointment, but through their willful neglect that permission had been withdrawn. Satan had gained his object in preventing them from entering Canaan; and now he urged them on to do the very thing, in the face of the divine prohibition, which they had refused to do when God required it. Thus the great deceiver gained the victory by leading them to rebellion the second time. They had distrusted the power of God to work with their efforts in gaining possession of Canaan; yet now they presumed upon their own strength to accomplish the work independent of divine aid . “We have sinned against the Lord,” they cried; “we will go up and fight, according to all that the Lord our God commanded us.” Deuteronomy 1:41. So terribly blinded had they become by transgression. The Lord had never commanded them to “go up and fight.” It was not His purpose that they should gain the land by warfare, but by strict obedience to His commands . {PP 392} The Israelites crossed the river Arnon and advanced "); array_files[173]=new Array(0,4,"http://www.restorationministry.com/Open_Face/html/pdf/openface-54.pdf","2007-06-03","408K"," Open Face 54.p65","","","2 Cor. 3;18 Open Face MAY 2007 No. 54 Life in Christ must be rejected. For us, the truth becomes a lie, because of our pre-conceived ideas. A Logical Sequence Truth always follows a logical sequence. There is always a chain of ideas with one thing linked to another to form a beautiful whole. This is always true. It is equally true that error must create a chain of false ideas to support its shaky structure with one error leading to another, until there is a confusing web of false ideas. (This is why it is so interesting to see that the Roman Catholic Church claims t h e doctrine if the Trinity as the foundation of all her beliefs). ighteousness by faith in Christ is one of the simplest truths, and certainly one of the most beautiful in the Bible. Why then does it seem to cause friction and confusion? I believe there are several answers to this question. One of them is, of course, that we all have so many wrong ideas deeply embedded in our minds that it is difficult for us to see with perfect clarity. Everything which we view, has got to be matched against the database of ideas which is stored in our minds. If any of those ideas is wrong then it will usually have an effect on how we view the particular issue in question. Many times it is our deep-rooted ideas which need to be changed. Often, there is something fundamentally wrong with them, but because they are a part of the belief structure around which we have built our entire philosophy, we refuse to even consider the idea of changing them. They must remain, therefore the truth being considered 1 which need modification. In this article, as I will try to show one connection between righteousness by faith and the truth about God, I trust that we may be able to see the logic that ties one truth to another in a perfect sequence. What is Life? There is no human being who can give a perfect answer to this question. If man could answer this question, then probably he would have already produced life, but the best that he can do is describe the characteristics of li "); array_files[174]=new Array(0,1,"http://www.restorationministry.com/Open_Face/html/54-may07-nav.html","2007-06-03","1K","Contents","",""," Contents Open Face No. 54 May 2007 Home Newsletter Menu PDF Version In this issue: Life in Christ Campmeeting Report Thoughts on Faith and Works Did Christ Possess of Himself Divine Powers? Publisher Information "); array_files[175]=new Array(0,1,"http://www.restorationministry.com/Open_Face/html/54-may07-frameset.html","2007-06-03","0K","Openface 54","",""," Openface 54 frameset rows=* cols=210,* framespacing=5 frameborder=yes border=5 bordercolor=#993300 frame src=54-may07-nav.html name=navFrame scrolling=auto noresize id=navFrame frame src=54-may07-content.html name=Contentframe scrolling=yes id=Contentframe noframes "); array_files[176]=new Array(0,1,"http://www.restorationministry.com/Open_Face/html/54-may07-content.html","2007-06-03","56K","Open Face 54","",""," Open Face 54 Open Face No 54- May 2007 Life in Christ David Clayton Righteousness by faith in Christ is one of the simplest truths, and certainly one of the most beautiful in the Bible. Why then does it seem to cause friction and confusion? I believe there are several answers to this question. One of them is, of course, that we all have so many wrong ideas deeply embedded in our minds that it is difficult for us to see with perfect clarity. Everything which we view, has got to be matched against the database of ideas which is stored in our minds. If any of those ideas is wrong then it will usually have an effect on how we view the particular issue in question. Many times it is our deep-rooted ideas which need to be changed. Often, there is something fundamentally wrong with them, but because they are a part of the belief structure around which we have built our entire philosophy, we refuse to even consider the idea of changing them. They must remain, therefore the truth being considered must be rejected. For us, the truth becomes a lie, because of our pre-conceived ideas. A Logical Sequence Truth always follows a logical sequence. There is always a chain of ideas with one thing linked to another to form a beautiful whole. This is always true. It is equally true that error must create a chain of false ideas to support its shaky structure with one error leading to another, until there is a confusing web of false ideas. (This is why it is so interesting to see that the Roman Catholic Church claims the doctrine if the Trinity as the foundation of all her beliefs). Sometimes we hear ideas presented which are so illogical that all we can do is laugh at them. Ideas do not fit together in a reasonable way and we can see clearly that the persons presenting such views are not balanced in their minds. In contrast to this, there are times when we may disagree with an idea, but we can see, logically why a person may believe it. We see one idea linking to another idea in a reasonable way, yet as we trace these ideas backwar "); array_files[177]=new Array(0,1,"http://www.restorationministry.com/Open_Face/html/53-march07-nav.html","2007-05-01","1K","Contents","",""," Contents Open Face No. 53 March 2007 Home Newsletter Menu PDF Version In this issue: Issues in Galatians Christs Life in me Pennsylvania Campmeeting Prophecy Nugget Available Materials Publisher Information "); array_files[178]=new Array(0,1,"http://www.restorationministry.com/Open_Face/html/53-march07-frameset.html","2007-05-01","0K","Openface 53","",""," Openface 53 frameset rows=* cols=210,* framespacing=5 frameborder=yes border=5 bordercolor=#993300 frame src=53-march07-nav.html name=navFrame scrolling=auto noresize id=navFrame frame src=53-march07-content.html name=Contentframe scrolling=yes id=Contentframe noframes "); array_files[179]=new Array(0,1,"http://www.restorationministry.com/Open_Face/html/53-march07-content.html","2007-05-01","60K","Open Face 53","",""," Open Face 53 Open Face No 53- March 2007 Issues In Galatians David Clayton Some years ago the following article was published in Old Paths . We have decided to republish it because we feel that it is especially relevant at this time in light of our present emphasis on Righteousness by Faith, and the increasing agitation in some quarters on the question of the Feast days. We have slightly modified the article. Many Seventh-day Adventists, and in fact most Christians who believe in the observance of the ten commandments, seem to have a problem in understanding the issues which Paul faced and the arguments which he presented at the time when he wrote the letter to the Galatians. The arguments of Paul in the book of Galatians are very important, and understanding them is critical to a proper appreciation of the purpose and place of the law, as well as to a proper appreciation of the gospel. In fact, one of the issues at the famous 1888 Minneapolis General Conference was the disagreement between E.J. Waggoner and several of the leading delegates to the conference, on the question of the law in Galatians. In more recent times some seventh-day Adventists have begun to advocate the observance of the laws given to Moses at Mount Sinai, and in particular, the feast days and festivals, namely, the Passover, the wavesheaf, the firstfruits, the day of Pentecost, the blowing of Trumpets, the day of Atonement and the feast of Tabernacles. Though they do not advocate the offering of animal sacrifices, for the most part they seek to observe these festivals in a similar way to how they were observed during biblical times, and at the exact times specified in the law. However, in Galatians 4:10,11 the apostle Paul chastises the Galatian brethren for observing certain time periods. He says, Ye observe days, and months, and times, and years. I am afraid of you, lest I have bestowed upon you labour in vain. (Gal 4:10-11) This seems to clearly suggest that the observance of set time periods such as was involved in the keeping of the "); array_files[180]=new Array(0,4,"http://www.restorationministry.com/Open_Face/html/pdf/openface-53.pdf","2007-04-18","321K"," Open Face 53b.p65","","","2 Cor. 3;18 Open Face MARCH 2007 No. 53 Issues In Galatians David Clayton Waggoner and several of the leading delegates to the conference, on the question of the law in Galatians. In more recent times some seventhday Adventists have begun to advocate the observance of the laws given to Moses at Mount Sinai, and in particular, the feast days and festivals, namely, t h e Passover, the wavesheaf, the firstfruits, the day of Pentecost, the blowing of Trumpets, the day of Atonement and the feast of Tabernacles. Though they do not advocate the offering of animal sacrifices, for the most part they seek to observe these festivals in a similar way to how they were observed during biblical times, and at the exact times specified in the law. However, in Galatians 4:10,11 the apostle Paul chastises the Galatian brethren for observing certain time periods. He says, Ye observe days, and months, and times, and years. I am afraid of you, lest I have bestowed upon you labour in vain. (Gal 4:10-11) This seems to clearly suggest that the observance of set time periods such as was involved in the keeping of the feast days was unnecessary and even undesirable and was a cause of concern to Paul. However, those who advocate the observance of the feast days claim that Paul was not here referring to the biblical feast days but rather to pagan holidays and festivals which the Galatians had gone back to observing. They suggest that Paul could not have been referring to the feasts appointed by God. The following reasons are given: 1. Paul could not have referred to the feasts appointed by God as elements of the world (Gal. 4:3) and as weak and beggarly elements. (Gal. 4:9) 2. Paul says that the Galatians were turning again to these weak and beggarly elements (Gal. 4:9). Since they had previously been pagans, involved in pagan worship and not in Jewish worship, then the only thing they could turn again to was paganism ­ not to Old Testament religion. 3. Paul declares that at that time (before they became Christians while they were involved "); array_files[181]=new Array(0,1,"http://www.restorationministry.com/Open_Face/html/51-nov-2006-content.htm","2007-04-16","62K","Open Face 51","",""," Open Face 51 Open Face No 51- November 2006 The Two covenants David Clayton One of the important questions which faces us today is the question of what focus our work should take. As we seek to share truth, to minister to others, what aspect of Gods truth should we regard as most critical? What particular element of the truth should we concentrate our energies upon? Ellen White makes an interesting statement in the Paulson collection. On page 342 she says, “The end is near. We have not a moment to lose. Light is to shine forth from Gods people in clear, distinct rays, bringing Jesus before the churches and before the world. God will give additional light, and old truths will be recovered and replaced in the framework of truth; and wherever the laborers go they will triumph. As Christs ambassadors, they are to search the Scriptures to seek for the truths that have been hidden beneath the rubbish of error, and every ray of light received is to be communicated to others. One interest will prevail, one subject will swallow up all others, Christ our Righteousness.” -(Paulson Collection – 342) This is a thought-provoking statement and one which should make us give careful thought to the question of where our emphasis should really be placed. The more I have come to understand the implications of the righteousness of Christ, the more clearly I have seen the truthfulness of this statement of Ellen white. As we view the landscape of Seventh-day Adventism today (official and unofficial), we see many confusing ideas. Some are very emphatic that the thrust of our work must be to warn people of the impending Sunday laws, others feel that the real issue is that we need to keep the feast days, or call God by His Hebrew name, others that health reform holds the key to finishing Gods work, others feel that the real issue is that the world needs to understand that God does not kill. We ourselves have placed great emphasis on the truth about God and insisted that understanding the truth of Gods identity is critically important a "); array_files[182]=new Array(0,1,"http://www.restorationministry.com/Open_Face/html/50-sept-2006-content.htm","2007-04-16","66K","Open Face 50","",""," Open Face 50 Open Face No 50 - September 2006 Freedom in Europe David Clayton Germany I left home on Thursday July 27, 2006, bound for Berlin, Germany, by way of Heathrow airport in London. I Flew out of Montego Bay at 7:30 P.M. but we stopped in Kingston where we experienced a frustrating delay and aggravating treatment at the Kingston airport. We finally left there at some minutes to 11. After a flight of nine and a half hours I arrived in London on Friday July 28 at 1:20 PM. Here there was another wait of almost eight hours but finally I left sometime after 9.00 P.M. and, arrived in Berlin some time after 10.00 oclock. I was met by brother Erwin Zoor and brother Martin. It had been a year since I last saw Erwin and we were overjoyed to meet again, however, I was tired and slept for most of the four hour journey to home. The following day was Sabbath, and my duties began immediately. I worshipped at the home church in the home of brother and sister Gurtner where I was asked to give the sermon. I spoke on the Righteousness of Christ with special emphasis on His finished work. About 20 persons were present. In the afternoon we went home to sleep because both Erwin and I were still very tired from being up so late the night before. The next day we left for the first leg of this European trip. This was to be a campmeeting in a place named Darlingerode about four hours away. I arrived at this campmeeting with the expectation that I would speak eleven (11) times. However when I arrived I discovered that one of the scheduled speakers was absent because of illness and I was asked to take two extra slots!! On Monday, I spoke twice. The topics of the messages were, “Human and divine spirit,” and “The nature of righteousness.” My aim was to present Righteousness by faith in a systematic way, building on each idea step by step so that the people would be able to understand firstly, the connection between this message and the truth of the godhead, and secondly that they could be able to understand the implications of wha "); array_files[183]=new Array(0,1,"http://www.restorationministry.com/Open_Face/html/49-july-2006-content.htm","2007-04-16","63K","Open Face 49","",""," Open Face 49 Open Face No 49- July 2006 Why The Sinner Had to Die David Clayton As we consider the title of this article, our response may be to think, “well, the sinner has to die because the law proves him guilty and requires his death.” We see his death as completely dependent upon his relationship to the law. This concept is rooted deeply into the thinking of Christians and while in a way, it is correct, this common understanding does not fully explain the truth. Let us consider for a moment what a law really is.A law is basically a principle or a rule which governs behaviour. A law dictates the way we operate. But when we speak of law, there are two kinds of law which we need to consider. There is natural law and there is judicial law and understanding the difference between the two is critical to a proper appreciation of the reason why the sinner has to die. Natural Laws In the case of natural laws, all menrecognize the importance of always working in harmony with them. The rules are built into nature and we cannot change them or adjust them. These laws simply describe the way nature works and they are called laws because nature compels all things to behave in conformity to those particular principles. We must work in harmony with them. One such law is the law of gravity. This law compels us to behave in a certain way with the sure knowledge that if we change our behaviour, drastic consequences will follow. For example, I may not agree with the law of gravity and so may step from the roof of a 50 story building. I will speedily find out that by not acting in harmony with the law of gravity I have suffered severe consequences. I may not like natural laws, but if I disregard them, unhappy consequences are sure to follow. This is true of all natural laws. Judicial Laws Judicial laws on the other hand, are laws which are laid down by a governing authority. They are laws which are considered good or necessary for the harmonious existence of a particular society and they are not necessarily the same in every s "); array_files[184]=new Array(0,1,"http://www.restorationministry.com/Open_Face/html/48-may-2006-content.htm","2007-04-16","57K","Open Face 48","",""," Open Face 48 Open Face No 48- May 2006 Born of The spirit David Clayton TheSpirit of Man In trying to safeguard against the concept of the immortal soul, Adventism has gone too far in the other direction. Generally speaking, today, in Adventism, man is regarded as being only a breathing, thinking piece of clay. As the average Seventh day Adventist would explain it, the formula seems very simple: God made man from the dust of the earth, then He breathed breath into him (air) and so man became a living soul. Take away the breath of life (air) and man becomes a dead soul, therefore, all man is made up of is dirt, made alive when the process of breathing begins. There is no such thing as an immaterial component called the spirit. This is just another way of describing the breath which is in mans nostrils. However, that concept presents many problems. I would have hesitated to say that this is the generally held view of Adventism, but for the fact that this is what I was taught in the church and because I have had several discussions with Adventists including ministers who have insisted on this as the biblical description of the nature of man. If in the resurrection I will have a new body, made of different particles of matter then how will I be the same person? The word of God teaches very clearly that the new body received will not be the same as the original bodies we received when we were originally born into the world. So also is the resurrection of the dead. It is sown in corruption; it is raised in incorruption: (43) It is sown in dishonour; it is raised in glory: it is sown in weakness; it is raised in power: (44) It is sown a natural body; it is raised a spiritual body. There is a natural body, and there is a spiritual body.(1 Cor 15:42-44) Ellen White agrees with the Bible that the bodies we receive in the resurrection will not be made up of the same material substance as the original body. “Our personal identity is preserved in the resurrection, though not the same particles of matter or material substan "); array_files[185]=new Array(0,1,"http://www.restorationministry.com/Open_Face/html/47-march-2006-content.htm","2007-04-16","58K","Open Face 47","",""," Open Face 47 Open Face No 47- March 2006 Righteousness by Faith David Clayton One of the most thought-provoking definitions of faith is found in Hebrews 11:1. Paul begins this great chapter by saying, Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.(Heb 11:1) Not many people would have described or defined faith in this way. Probably the popular definition would run something like this: “faith is believing something with all your heart even when you cannot see it.” There is merit to that definition of course and that is why Pauls definition is so intriguing. Why did he choose this definition which is so evidently carefully thought out and precisely worded? The very fact that it is so unorthodox compels us to take notice. Recently I asked myself a question which helped me to come to grips with Pauls definition of faith and to grasp the true impact of this verse. The question was, “how do you know that you are in Christ and that you have received the holy spirit?” I mean, there were no tongues of fire as at Pentecost, there was no speaking in other languages, there has not been any healing of the sick or raising of the dead. How do I know? What evidence is there that I am in Christ and have received of His life? This question was not mine originally. As I have spoken on the subject of what it means to be in Christ and rejoiced in the truth of complete salvation in Christ more than one person has asked me, “where is the evidence?” So I had to face the question, what is your proof? Where is the evidence indeed? Faith is the evidence Pauls unusual definition seems tailor-made for just such a question. “Faith,” he says, “is the evidence …” But what does he mean by this and does it make sense? When we speak of evidence we mean demonstrable and tangible realities, we mean measurable facts which may be put on display for all to examine. In stark contrast Paul speaks of “things not seen.” Faith is the evidence of things not seen. Here we have a contradiction. In todays material world of s "); array_files[186]=new Array(0,1,"http://www.restorationministry.com/Open_Face/html/46-jan-2006-content.htm","2007-04-16","61K","Open Face 46","",""," Open Face 46 Open Face No 46- January 2006 Without The Law David Clayton Although there have always been several concepts of righteousness embraced by different groups of people, there is actually only one true standard of righteousness and it is Gods character as expressed in His law. Ellen White says that, “righteousness is right-doing (COL - 312),” and we conclude that this right doing is defined by the law of God when properly understood in its spiritual application. However, we read something in Romans 3:21 which gives us an interesting perspective onrighteousness. But now the righteousness of God without the law is manifested, being witnessed by the law and the prophets; (Rom 3:21) If right-doing is righteousness and this right-doing is defined by the law, how is it possible that there can be a righteousness, “without the law?” This is the difficulty which many Christians have. They find it hard to accept that there is a way to salvation and victory which does not depend on the law or on their observance of the law. They believe that such an idea will destroy reverence for the law and will lead to a religion which is indolent, lazy and void of good works. However, let us put our misconceptionsaside and allow the Bible to speak. If, as Ellen White says, righteousness is “right-doing,” and this is the true definition of righteousness, then it is clear that there can be no righteousness unless somebody does what is right. This is simple and so easy tounderstand that most people conclude that the answer to their problem of unrighteousness is simply to start doing what is right. However, those who are honest soon encounter an insurmountable problem. They discover that they have taken on an impossible task, for all their efforts to do good only end in failure and they discover that it is impossible for them to do what is right, that is, they cannot become righteous by doing good. Some who are dishonest convince themselves that they are succeeding and that they are righteous because they observe the outward for "); array_files[187]=new Array(0,1,"http://www.restorationministry.com/Open_Face/html/45-nov-2005-nav.htm","2007-04-16","2K","Contents","",""," Contents Open Face No. 45 November 2005 In this issue: The Art of water-Walking The Issue of Original Sin What is Sin? What Makes men Sinners? Kay-Kay Arrives Be a Berean Comments from the Pioneers The Nature of Sin Sins Door Publisher Information PDF version Newsletters Menu "); array_files[188]=new Array(0,1,"http://www.restorationministry.com/Open_Face/html/45-nov-2005-content.htm","2007-04-16","65K","Open Face 45","",""," Open Face 45 Open Face No 45- November 2005 The Art of water-walking David Clayton One of the most unusual events which occurred in the experience of the disciples of Jesus, took place one dark night on the sea of Galilee. As they sat exposed and helpless in the boat they beheld through the gloom a mysterious figure approaching them apparently walking on the surface of the water. Their terrified cries brought the reassurance that the eerie figure was none other than Jesus and their fear was replaced by a sense of awe. What happened next is not easy for me to understand. It is difficult to follow the workings of Simon Peters mind. I cannot quite put myself in his shoes and see myself making the same kind of request which he made. But the record is plain. Upon hearing that it was Christ, he instantly called out,“….Lord, if it be thou, bid me come unto thee on the water.” (Matt 14:28). Peter did not make this request in order that his faith might be strengthened. The wording of his request makes it seem that he was saying, “I am not sure that it is you, but if it is you, then tell me to come and I will come.” If Peter had been uncertain of the identity of the figure on the water would he have dared to venture out of the boat? I dont think so. He knew that it was Jesus and it was on that basis that he made his request. What is more difficult to understand is, what was his motive in asking? Was it simply that he wished to experience the thrill of walking on water? Was he thinking of what a great story he would have to tell his grandchildren? Was it that he was so anxious to meet Jesus that he could not wait until He got into the boat? None of these suggestions make much sense, but what is certain is that Jesus immediately spoke one word. Without hesitating He said, “come.” Jesus response is as puzzling as Peters request, but it was not untypical of the way He operated. There rarely ever was a time when He denied the request of any person no matter how unreasonable or unrealistic it seemed. For example, when He was "); array_files[189]=new Array(0,1,"http://www.restorationministry.com/Open_Face/html/44-sept-2005-nav.htm","2007-04-16","1K","navigation","",""," navigation Open Face No. 44 September 2005 In this issue: We can be Truly Free John Wesleys Conversion Tape Offer Publisher Information PDF version Newsletters Menu "); array_files[190]=new Array(0,1,"http://www.restorationministry.com/Open_Face/html/44-sept-2005-frameset.html","2007-04-16","0K","Openface 44","",""," Openface 44 frameset rows=* cols=210,* framespacing=5 frameborder=yes border=5 bordercolor=#993300 frame src=44-sept-2005-nav.htm name=navFrame scrolling=auto noresize id=navFrame frame src=44-sept-2005-content.htm name=Contentframe id=Contentframe noframes "); array_files[191]=new Array(0,1,"http://www.restorationministry.com/Open_Face/html/44-sept-2005-content.htm","2007-04-16","66K","Open Face 44","",""," Open Face 44 Open Face No 44- September 2005 We Can Be Truly Free David Clayton In studying the truth about God we have received blessings which have transformed our lives. Our understanding of Scripture has been greatly enhanced and our appreciation of the love of our heavenly Father and His Son have filled us with wonder and happiness. Somehow we have all sensed that this message holds the key to the greatest experience possible to man in this sphere of human existence, that is, that we might be “filled with all the fullness of God.” (Eph. 3:19) I must confess however, that there is one aspect of this truth which I did not fully grasp and as a result I failed to receive the fullness of the blessing which is wrapped up in the truth about God. I daresay that this has been true of most, if not all of us who have received this message. I had the idea that when I understood the love of God in His Son, I would love Him so much in return that I would automatically stop sinning against Him. There are some verses of Scripture which seem to give that impression, for example John 14:15, but these need to be understood and balanced in the light of the teaching of the rest of the Scriptures. The fact is, my love alone, by itself, no matter how great it is or how motivated I am, will never ever enable me to serve God perfectly and I found that out in my own experience. While my heart overflowed with the wonder of Gods love as I explored and even spoke on topics such as, “the heart of God,” I found to my chagrin that the euphoria and the mountain-top experiences which I enjoyed at such times did not enable me to have complete and continuous victory over sin. Have you found this to be true in your experience? Oh praise God, there is a solution to the problem!! Two Vital Truths In exploring the doctrine of the godhead we have learned two vital things. a.Jesus is the literal, true, only begotten Son of the one true God. b.The holy spirit is literally an extension of the very life of God the Father and Jesus, His Son. The firs "); array_files[192]=new Array(0,1,"http://www.restorationministry.com/Open_Face/html/42-march-2005-content.htm","2007-04-16","57K","Open Face 42","",""," Open Face 42 Open Face No 42- March 2005 Did Jesus die the second death? David Clayton In the “Open Face” of December 2004 I published an article entitled, “Thoughts on Christs Divinity”.In this article I stated that Jesus did not die the second death and that what He experienced was the pangs of the second death (the anticipation, the expectation of eternal death) but that He never actually had the experience. This position has disturbed some of our readers and a few have contacted me objecting to this idea.I must admit that some of the comments and arguments which were presented needed consideration and have caused me to assess my position more carefully.One of the objections which seemed to me to carry some weight was the suggestion that if we say that Jesus suffered the second death, then we would be supporting Catholic theology which teaches that the wages of sin is suffering rather than death.So I gave the matter more careful thought and as a consequence, I have here revisited the subject, taking what I hope is a more systematic approach. What is the Second Death? There are only two places in the Bible where we are told what the second death is.These are found in Revelation 20:14 and Revelation 21:8. “And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire.This is the second death.” (Revelation 20:14) “But the fearful, and unbelieving and the abominable, and murders, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death.”(Revelation 21:8.) Both these verses tell us very clearly and unmistakably what the second death is.The second death is the Lake of fire.There is no second death outside of the lake of fire.Whatever or whoever dies the second death goes into the lake of fire.If we accept the Bible as our teacher we cannot successfully deny this fact.Therefore,we must conclude that if Jesus died the second death then He must have gone into the lake of fire.Did Jesus go into the lake of fire?Before we ans "); array_files[193]=new Array(0,1,"http://www.restorationministry.com/Open_Face/html/41-jan-2005-content.htm","2007-04-16","61K","Open Face 41","",""," Open Face 41 Open Face No 41- January 2004 Standing for The Truth Sally Specht Dear Pastor ........., Thank you for your nice letter and for your concern. Thank you for the article by George R. Knight. It was not new to me, I had read it before. And I read it again. I have also read the papers by Jerry Moon. Like I told you I have been studying the history of the development of this transformation in our church, for the last ten years. I have really read a lot on it. But the important thing for me was to read on this whole subject of God, that which is found in the Bible. So I read the entire Bible three times during this period, looking for a Trinity doctrine and cannot find anything that would convince me there is such a doctrine. I have read the New Testament even more times. The Gospel Writers were very explicit as to who God is, who the Son is and what the holy spirit is. In fact, I have found that the entire Bible is really trying to get us to know who God is. Certainly this was the main thrust of Christs life here on earth. He spoke constantly about His Father, even in the parables. Many say that the doctrine of God is a “mystery”, but Deut. 29:29 says; The secret things belong unto the Lord our God; but those things which are revealed belong to us and to our children forever. George Knight quotes many statements from the book Evangelism, which was actually a compilation done by Leroy Froom and others, for the chief purpose of convincing the SDA church that sister White believed in a Trinity. Im not sure Ellen White ever really had in mind that her books would be used as compilations. They can be very one sided and unbalanced and many things can be ‘taken out of their connection as she puts it. But then much has been done to her writings as well as Uriah Smiths and others that is really totally illegal. I have also noticed these men seldom quote the Bible for proof. Sister White says in the Spalding and Magan Collection, Page 174 ‘But dont you quote Sister White. I dont want you ever to quote Sister Whi "); array_files[194]=new Array(0,1,"http://www.restorationministry.com/Open_Face/html/40-nov-2004-content.htm","2007-04-16","62K","Open Face 40","",""," Open Face 40 Open Face No 40 - November 2004 Thoughts on Christs Divinity David Clayton Every now and then questions arise concerning the nature of Christ in the incarnation. In particular, the question of whether or not He was fully possessed of divine power while He was fully a human being keeps surfacing. Even among those who fully agree on the truth about God and His Son, there are often queries concerning the reality of the death of Christ. Since it is believed that Jesus possessed all divine power while He was here, the logical conclusion is that He did not completely die on Calvary and furthermore, that He had the power to, and did indeed raise Himself from the dead after His crucifixion. Truth is a consistent chain with every part linked to the other.I learned that many years ago and I have found it to be an inflexible rule.It is always true.Whenever our ideas are not in line with truth then we find that when we try to harmonize these ideas with what is already established, there is a break in logic, a break in harmony.The inevitable result is that we have to readjust our beliefs in everything in order to make this new idea fit.This is what happened when the Catholic Church adopted the doctrine of the Trinity.Over the centuries they have followed through on the logic required by that first false idea and the inevitable result is the confused mass of false and meaningless doctrines which are characteristic of that system today. “The mystery of the trinity is the central doctrine of Catholic faith. Upon it are based all the other teachings of the church”(Handbook for Todays Catholic - p.16) In this article we have endeavoured to examine this issue of whether or not Christ possessed divine power in Himself. We hope that the points presented will appeal to reason and logic. What we have endeavoured to do in this article is to be consistent with Bible truth. THE MAKEUP OF RATIONAL BEINGS Every rational being in the universe is made up of body and spirit.This includes even spirit beings although in their cas "); array_files[195]=new Array(0,1,"http://www.restorationministry.com/Open_Face/html/38-july-2004-content.htm","2007-04-16","61K","Open Face 38","",""," Open Face 38 Open Face No 38- July 2004 Chris Story Chris Walega My life has truly been an odyssey ever since I first asked God to “help me,” which happened about 5 years ago, when I was in the Marine Corps. I was in the Marines because my childhood left me “mad as hell” and I wanted to get back at the whole world. I wanted to hurt people I didnt even know. I know it sounds horrible, but this was truly my motivation in life. It sounds like a low place to be, but I actually got lower, God let me get to the place where I would finally beg for His help, and I did. He put me in the care of an Adventist pastor, a self-supporting independent, whose name was Pastor Robus. His ministry was something like John the Baptists. He was bold. (Now, I understand, that when many people hear about a bold man with a ‘John, the Baptist type of ministry, they imagine some wild, dangerous looking man who is in everybodys face, but not this guy. He was not that way—he was real. He was a nice, down to earth guy, whose talent from God was to be able to connect with real folks, folks who had heavy issues and actually needed to hear a few hard words instead of being continually pampered...) Robus had a remarkable personal testimony that revealed that none are too far out there to be out of the reach of a God that loves us. The depth and openness of his testimony really touched my heart and it was the first time that any kind of religious person said anything that got to me. I felt this was the answer to my prayer when I had cried for God to help me, and I settled it in my mind that I would give my life to this “God.” I use quotation marks here because I want to illustrate, that in my understanding at that time, God was mostly very vague. All I understood about God was that He is Almighty, Omniscient, and very Kind. I understood that I would have to stand before Him in judgment, so I reckoned that I should forsake my evil ways and live very carefully. Not long after this encounter with Robus, I was kicked out of the Marine Corps because "); array_files[196]=new Array(0,1,"http://www.restorationministry.com/Open_Face/html/37-may-2004-content.htm","2007-04-16","56K","Open Face 37","",""," Open Face 37 Open Face No 37- May 2004 Progress in Australia David Clayton General Impressions Our trip to Australia lasted for a little over four weeks. The trip was packed with assignments from the very beginning and for the entire duration of the four and a half weeks we did not have much more than a couple of days free. I had to remark at one point that I would always remember this trip as “the days of the whirlwind.” Our itinerary took us from Sydney to Brisbane, then to Perth on the other side of Australia, then back to Sydney, then to Melbourne, then to Sydney again and from there a trip back up to Brisbane which involved several stops and visits along the way. Initially we had been scheduled to spend a week in the Solomon islands, but the threat of unrest and a possible civil war indicated that it was best for us to cancel this trip. Instead we spent this time in Cooranbong, holding other meetings and having a couple of days of rest and recreation. We spoke in home school gatherings, public halls, private homes and in parks. Allen evenhad the privilege of discussing Adventism with a group of Lutherans in their church, and I had the privilege of speaking in an Assemblies of God Church, even though only the pastor and his wife turned up to listen. I also discussed the truth with a group of hippie type Christians who lived together in a type of commune and were strongly Trinitarian. The campmeeting in Numinbah was probably the high point of our visit. Thirteen persons were baptized at this campmeeting (Allen did the baptizing) and with the other 12 who were baptized at other places a total of 25 people were baptized during this trip. In addition we had the privilege of seeing several others come to an understanding and an appreciation of the truth about God. As in other countries the truth about God has crossed Adventisms boundaries in Australia like nothing else has ever done, and it is not only in the mainline SDA church that people have been taking a stand for the truth, but also in the SDA reform move "); array_files[197]=new Array(0,1,"http://www.restorationministry.com/Open_Face/html/35-jan-2004-content.htm","2007-04-16","59K","Open Face 34","",""," Open Face 34 Open Face No 35- January 2004 The Mark of Perfection David Clayton And the dragon was wroth with the woman, and went to make war with the remnant of her seed, which keep the commandments of God, and have the testimony of Jesus Christ.(Rev 12:17) Many of us have used this verse in proving to people that we belong to the true movement of God in these last days. We have pointed out that there are two marks of the remnant, firstly, they keep the commandments of God, and secondly, they have the testimony of Jesus Christ and of course the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy. (Rev. 19:10). These two things have been the key proofs in demonstrating that we are a part of Gods Remnant Movement. It is true that in the context of Revelation, God gives us these two identifying marks. However, Revelation is a book of figures and symbols and it is possible to misunderstand or misinterpret much of what it is really saying. There is a mark described in the Bible which is more fundamental, more basic and really more unmistakable which is identified as the true mark of a perfect Christian. What is this true mark? Let us see what it says in 1 Cor. 12:28 And God hath set some in the church, first apostles, secondarily prophets, thirdly teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, governments, diversities of tongues. Notice all the gifts which God put in the church. All these outstanding gifts are things to be coveted. The Mormons claim to have twelve apostles and a prophet. The Jehovahs witnesses claim that Judge Rutherford, their founder was a prophet, and Seventh-day Adventists make the same claim for Ellen White. The gifts of the spirit are things to be coveted and are often seen as an indicator of Gods calling, the mark of the people of God. However, the apostle Paul continued with his argument in verses 29-31: Are all apostles? are all prophets? are all teachers? are all workers of miracles? Have all the gifts of healing? do all speak with tongues? do all interpret? But covet earnestly t "); array_files[198]=new Array(0,1,"http://www.restorationministry.com/Open_Face/html/34-nov-2003-content.htm","2007-04-16","66K","Open Face 34","",""," Open Face 34 Open Face No 34- November 2003 The Progress of Truth in Africa David Clayton with Howard Williams A few months ago Allen Stump and I made a visit to Europe. On the way back home I stopped briefly in West Virginia before returning home to Jamaica. It was while I was there that brother Lynnford Beachy approached me with the request that I consider visiting Africa with Howard Williams in just a months time. Both he and Allen were unable to make the trip at that time, but there was to be a campmeeting in Tanzania which would involve many of the leading believers in Africa and it was felt that there was the need of representatives from one of our ministries to be there. In addition, the growing interest in Africa would give an opportunity for us to visit other places if we elected to visit this campmeeting. I was not ready to answer because I was still, then, too full of thoughts of home and I needed also to check if I could make the time to be away for another month after having already been away for a month. However, after coming home and trying feverishly to catch up on the backlog of work, I prayed about the matter and eventually decided that I should go. It meant leaving some things undone, but we felt that the trip was urgent enough and important enough to warrant us putting some things on hold. Thus it was that on Tuesday, September 16, Howard and I flew out of Montego Bay, headed for Africa. South Africa We arrived in Johannesburg on Thursday, Sept. 18 after a wearying night flight of 10 hours. After the swiftest passage through customs and immigration which we had ever experienced, we were greeted by Charles Ndlela and Mdutshwa Zikhali who were standing in a crowd of people who were all holding placards with names on them. They recognized us long before we even saw them and started waving and beckoning to us. After greetings and introductions we got into the car which they had borrowed for the occasion and headed for the place where we would be staying. From the air, in the vicinity of the air "); array_files[199]=new Array(0,1,"http://www.restorationministry.com/Open_Face/html/33-sept-2003-content.htm","2007-04-16","71K","Open Face 33","",""," Open Face 33 Open Face No 33- September 2003 Report on the Work in Europe David Clayton & Allen Stump (David Clayton and Allen Stump wrote the following report. Reference is noted for which author is writing.) David Clayton: Last year Allen Stump and I visited Europe and as we reported in Old Paths and Open Face, we found many sincere brothers and sisters who had received the truth about God and His Son, and others who were eagerly studying the subject. Since last year we had received reports of the growing interest in this area of the Lords vineyard. These reports, as well as direct appeals that we should return, convinced us that we needed to visit Europe again as soon as possible. This desire was fulfilled in July and August of this year. In addition to revisiting Germany and Poland, we also were able to visit the countries of Hungary, Moldova, and also Romania, which Allen had visited for a short time last year. I had been unable to visit Romania because of not having a visa. This year I started working on my visa applications as soon as we knew what our itineraries were like, and were certain of what countries we would be visiting. In spite of this, however, I only managed to get the final visa on the Friday before the Sunday when I would be leaving! The Lord cut it very close, but once again He came through in time to strengthen the conviction that our trip was a part of His will. In fact, I had to get a visa to pass through the country of Slovakia, which I obtained after I had arrived in Hungary at the Slovakian embassy there. In the end, everything worked out well. We arrived in Europe on July 21 by way of Munich, Germany, and we were met at the airport by Brother Erwin Zoor, who was to be our guide for the entire duration of our stay in Europe. Though a very young man (only twenty-four), Erwin speaks English, Hungarian, and German very well. He also speaks some Romanian. He is in the forefront of the work in Germany and has already established a meaningful work there this past year. He has set up "); array_files[200]=new Array(0,1,"http://www.restorationministry.com/Open_Face/html/32-july-2003-content.htm","2007-04-16","61K","Open Face 32","",""," Open Face 32 Open Face No 32- July 2003 Ellen White and The Godhead (part 2) David Clayton It was reading the writings of Ellen White which causedme to have my first doubts concerning the doctrine of the Trinity. I was reading from the book, The Story of Redemption, the first chapter, and I recognized that according to Ellen White, there was a clear difference in the perception of the angels between God and Jesus in terms of authority. In fact, Lucifers rebellion began because God called Jesus into a council to plan the creation of planet earth, while Lucifer was excluded. He felt that if Jesus was called, then he also should have been called. He felt that he had a right to be given the same privileges as Jesus. It struck me as I read that Lucifer was not covetous of the Fathers position (which he evidently recognized was absolutely supreme and out of his reach) but he was envious of the position which the Father had given to Christ. Ellen White goes on to say that the Father assembled all the inhabitants of heaven and let them know that it was ordained by Himself that Christs authority should be equal with His own, His word to be as readily obeyed as the Fathers. Again I could see that Jesus authority was equal with the Fathers, but that it was the Father who had ordained that it should be so. “The great Creator assembled the heavenly host, that He might in the presence of all the angels confer special honor upon His Son. The Son was seated on the throne with the Father, and the heavenly throng of holy angels was gathered around them. The Father then made known that it was ordained by Himself that Christ, His Son, should be equal with Himself; so that wherever was the presence of His Son, it was as His own presence. The word of the Son was to be obeyed as readily as the word of the Father. His Son He had invested with authority to command the heavenly host. Especially was His Son to work in union with Himself in the anticipated creation of the earth and every living thing that should exist upon the earth. His "); array_files[201]=new Array(0,1,"http://www.restorationministry.com/Open_Face/html/26-june-2002-content.htm","2007-04-16","64K","Open Face 26","",""," Open Face 26 Open Face No 26- June 2002 The Sabbath and the trinity Kaj-R. Nilsen Among Seventh-day Adventists it is generally agreed that the Sabbath will be the all-important question in the last days, before the second coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. A lot of focus is put on the Sabbath, and of course we should keep the Sabbath, but is something wrong with this end-time scenario? Is this all there is to it? Is it so simple that based upon the practice of either keeping the Sabbath or not, people will be separated into two parties; one prepared for destruction, the other for eternal life? Now first of all we must remember that the keeping of the Sabbath in and of itself has no merit whatsoever. Keeping the Sabbath will never save us. In fact, we will never be saved by works in any way. Only through faith in the righteousness of Christ can any of us be saved, and only as this faith produces a willing heart of obedience, will there ever be any true Sabbath-keeping. We need a faith that works, not faith plus works. Notice the Word of the Lord concerning this point: Moreover also I gave them my Sabbaths, to be a sign between me and them, that they might know that I am the LORD that sanctify them. – Ezekiel 20:12 The sabbath is the covenant sign. The keeping of the Sabbath signifies a rest in God, a rest from our own frustrating attempts to be justified by our own efforts. It signifies faith in a living God that loves, that redeems and that gave His only begotten Son for us. He is able, and we must die to the flesh. So behind the Sabbath day there are much deeper issues at stake: faith, righteousness, love, a spirit-filled life of obedience – Christ in you, the hope of glory. “Not I, but Christ” is the watch-word of the believer. The true believers who have experienced the deeper significance of the Sabbath, will keep it both in the spiritual and the practical sense. It will be a sign between them and God that they belong to Him, that there is a living connection operating. Rejecters of the Sabbath But our atten "); array_files[202]=new Array(0,1,"http://www.restorationministry.com/Open_Face/html/25-april-2002-content.htm","2007-04-16","86K","Open Face 25","",""," Open Face 25 Open Face No 25- April 2002 The following article is an edited version of a letter written by brother Lloyd Martin (author of the book, “100 And More Mysteries Of The Trinity”). Brother Martin contends that the word “Trinity” was coined specifically to describe the Roman Catholic concept of God and that therefore the Catholic understanding of the word is the only legitimate definition of the word that there is. He feels that in using the word “Trinity” to describe its concept of God, the SDA Church has embraced the most objectionable feature of the faith of Rome. Implications of The Trinity I object to all heresies opposed to the true sonship of Christ and the true relationship of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit. More particularly, I renounce the doctrine of the Trinity, which above all other heresies is the very antithesis of the deity of Christ and is the premier fabrication of the antichrist Roman Catholic Church. Of all heresies inimical to the true sonship of Christ and the infinite love of God, the Trinity stands without equal as the most subtle and influential. This doctrine, while teaching the distinctiveness of Christ, at the same time denies His individuality (separateness as a being) by portraying Him as a derived projection of God the Father, thereby making Him a virtual non-entity. By this subtle teaching the true sonship as well as the deity of Christ is destroyed and in its wake, the infinite love of God. This doctrine which has engulfed Adventism since 1930 is obviously fraught with implications for the credibility and acceptance of our Church as Gods final remnant. It brings into question our churchs fitness to fulfill its specific mission to prepare a dying world for the long overdue return of our Saviour, Jesus Christ. No justification for our acceptance of the Trinity can possibly repair the damage done to the credibility of the founding fathers of our faith and to Seventh-day Adventism, which during the first 86 years of its existence was decidedly anti-Trinitarian. It must no "); array_files[203]=new Array(0,1,"http://www.restorationministry.com/Open_Face/html/24-feb-2002-content.htm","2007-04-16","59K","Open Face 24","",""," Open Face 24 Open Face No 24- February 2002 Philadelphia or Laodicea? David Clayton The SDA Church and Laodicea One of the things that is early engraved in the mind of every Seventh Day Adventist, is the thought that Laodicea is Gods church of the last days. As soon as a person joins the Seventh Day Adventist church, he is made to understand that the Seventh Day Adventist church is represented by the seventh of the seven churches mentioned in Revelation chapters 2 and 3, the Laodicean Church. It is not difficult to support this claim, because there are many statements in the writings of Ellen White, which state that the church is in a Laodicean condition, and in which the Seventh Day Adventist church is identified as Laodicea. In Adventist thinking the seven churches in Revelation are understood to indicate seven chronological stages in the history of the Christian church. That is the way it is explained. The churches are Ephesus, Smyrna, Pergamos, Thyatira, Sardis, Philadelphia and Laodicea. It is believed, that Ephesus covered the apostolic era from the time of Jesus, until the time of the death of the last apostle about A. D. 100. Smyrna would cover from about A. D. 100, to A. D. 313, and Pergamos would go from about 313 to about 538 when the papacy was fully established as a dominant power. Thyatira would span the period of papal supremacy, from 538 to about 1517, when the Protestant reformation began under Martin Luther, and Sardis would cover the Protestant period, from about 1517 to about 1833, when the great second Advent movement began under William Miller. The Philadelphian period, continued from the time that William Miller started to preach in 1833, until about sometime in the 1840s when the Seventh Day Adventist church began. The Seventh Day Adventist church, would be from the eighteen forties until the coming of Jesus, which is the Laodicean period. This is the way it is explained, and if this is the way you understand the interpretation of the seven churches, then logically if you want to be sav "); array_files[204]=new Array(0,1,"http://www.restorationministry.com/Open_Face/html/23-december-2001-content.htm","2007-04-16","59K","Open Face 23","",""," Open Face 23 Open Face No 23- December 2001 Trip Down Under Report by David Clayton This article is a repeat of the report on the trip to Australia, which was already published in the December Old Paths. We are reproducing it here for the benefit of our readers who do not receive Old Paths. We hope those of you who have already seen the report will enjoy seeing the additional photos and will also receive a blessing from the other article which is in this edition of Open Face. In some ways, the trip to Australia was one of the most exhausting that I have ever undertaken. I left the home of Glen and Ann Ford at 5:30 A.M. on Wednesday morning, the 3rd of October. I did not set foot in a home again until Friday, October 5, at 2.00 p.m. During this time more than forty hours had elapsed. First there was the two-hour drive from Glen and Anns home in Turkey Wallow Hollow up to the airport at Charleston. This part of the journey was okay. Glen, Ann and I chatted a little, but it was still dark all the way and I mostly slept. At the airport things went smoothly. Because I was so early, they offered to put me on a flight that left two hours earlier than I was scheduled to leave.I accepted the offer, so I arrived in Pittsburgh with a little more than three hours to spare before my flight to Los Angeles.I spent the time walking around a bit and working on my laptop. The flight to Los Angeles was nearly four hours long and I calculated that we would arrive sometime between four and five p.m. I would have a wait of close to eight hours before my flight to Australia left at midnight. However, I had not calculated for the time difference between West Virginia and Los Angeles. We landed in LA at approximately 1 p.m. and I realized that I actually had close to twelve hours before my flight to Australia. During those twelve hours I became increasingly regretful that I had neglected to take a supply of tracts with me. Boxes of literature had been sent ahead of us, but in the frenzy of getting ready to leave, I forgot to take some "); array_files[205]=new Array(0,1,"http://www.restorationministry.com/Open_Face/html/22-august-2001-content.htm","2007-04-16","70K","Open Face 22","",""," Open Face 22 Open Face No 22 - August 2001 The Nature of Christ From The Bible and Ellen G. White Many questions continue to arise concerning the divinity of Christ. When He was here on earth, was He divine or wasnt He? Did He retain His divinity or did He lay it aside? Was it a divine Being who paid the price for the sins of humanity or was the death of Christ merely the offering of a human sacrifice? Critical to a proper understanding of this issue is the question of what nature Christ took in the incarnation. Was it the sinful, or the sinless nature? Could He take sinful nature and still be a divine Being? How could He be sinless if He partook of sinful, fallen flesh? The questions and the arguments go on and on. It is not possible for a person to resolve the questions and seeming contradictions surrounding this issue unless he first of all understands the true nature of intelligent beings, whether they be divine, angelic or human. It is necessary that we have a clear understanding of the truth that all intelligent beings are composed of two parts, these two parts being body and spirit. These two components are not independent of each other. The one cannot exist in a conscious state without the other, but at the same time, they are distinct aspects of any intelligent being. (if this concept is new to you, send for our audio tape entitled, “The Biblical View of The Holy Spirit.”). Bearing all this in mind we have endeavoured to put together a sampling of quotations from the Bible and the writings of Ellen White which we believe will help to clarify the issue of exactly what was the nature of the Son of God when He became flesh and dwelt among us DID JESUS TAKE MANS FALLEN NATURE? (Heb 2:16-18)For verily he took not on him the nature of angels; but he took on him the seed of Abraham. {17} Wherefore in all things it behoved him to be made like unto his brethren, that he might be a merciful and faithful high priest in things pertaining to God, to make reconciliation for the sins of the people. {18} For in that "); array_files[206]=new Array(0,1,"http://www.restorationministry.com/Open_Face/html/21-june-2001-content.htm","2007-04-16","66K","Open Face 21","",""," Open Face 21 Open Face No 21 - June 2001 The Fight of Faith David Clayton Some years ago, while reading the book, “Christs Object lessons”, I came across a statement on page 69 which has given me cause for much reflection ever since I read it: “When the character of Christ shall be fully reproduced in His people, then He shall come to claim them as His own.” C.O.L. – 69 We often think of the finishing of the work in terms of the number of people who have not yet heard the everlasting gospel, but the Holy Spirit shows us here, another perspective: Until we, His people, are in our behavior and in our thinking exactly like Jesus, then He will not return to take us home. (see Eph. 4:13,14 ; 5:25-27) It is depressing, but interesting to note that even among those who call themselves “reformers”, there is a strong emphasis on correctness of doctrine, but very little focus on the issue of a Christlike character. The real issue is this: Am I like Jesus? Am I ready to meet Him now? If the answer is no, then everything else is meaningless. IS COMPLETE VICTORY TRULY POSSIBLE? 1 John 3:9 reads: “Whosoever is born of God doth not commit sin….” I must confess that this text has caused me to ask myself many questions and has caused a few anxious moments. At times I have had to ask myself, “can it be that I am not born of God?” The point of the text is very simple: A certain kind of person will not sin; does not sin. My question is, “why am I not that kind of person?” Truly, it is not because we do not try. It is not for lack of effort. We make resolutions, we pray harder, we fight with all our might for years and years. Yet, like the man in Romans 7, we find that: “……I delight in the law of God after the inward man: But I see another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members.” Rom. 7:22,23 Yet there is a way. There is a sure way to the life of victory. Paul said, “I can do all things through Christ……” and Jesus Himself stated that, “with God "); array_files[207]=new Array(0,1,"http://www.restorationministry.com/search.html","2007-02-22","10K","Restoration Ministry - Restoring the Truth about God","",""," Restoration Ministry - Restoring the Truth about God SEARCH All the files Web pages Text files Adobe PDF MS Word MS Excel MS PowerPoint RTF files "); array_files[208]=new Array(0,4,"http://www.restorationministry.com/Open_Face/html/pdf/openface-52.pdf","2007-02-21","268K"," Open Face 52.p65","","","2 Cor. 3;18 Open Face JANUARY 2007 No. 52 The Promise vs The Law David Clayton to Abraham alone? No, it applied also to his seed, and the promise was, I will be a God to you, and your seed after you. Why did God make this promise to Abraham? From time to time, God renewed this promise, but we can find the real reason why He made it in Genesis 15:5,6. And he brought him forth abroad, a n d said, Look now toward heaven, and tell the stars, if thou be able to number them: and he said unto him, So shall thy seed b e . (6) And he believed in the LORD; and he counted it to him for righteousness. (Gen 15:5-6) he more we study the subject of Righteousness in Christ, the more we realize how important it is that we correctly understand the purpose of God in giving the law, and the place which it has in the experience of the Christian. Misunderstanding of this has certainly led many to an experience in which Christ has been shut away from them and Christianity has become a hard religion of painful drudgery. As we examine this subject once again, our focus will be on Galatians Chapter three where the apostle Paul gives us a different perspective on salvation in Christ. But let us begin with Genesis 17: 7 where God says, And I will establish my covenant b e t w e e n me and thee and thy seed after thee in their generat i o n s for an everlasting covenant, to be a God unto thee, and to thy seed after thee. (Gen 17:7) God made this promise to Abraham, but to whom did it apply? Did it apply 1 in James 2:22. But his faith in God was the only reason why this promise was made to him. DOUBLY CERTAIN Notice how strong God is in making t h i s promise. He says in Genesis 22:16,17, .... By myself have I sworn, saith the LORD, for because thou hast d o n e this thing, and hast not withheld thy son, thine only son: (17) That in blessing I will bless t h e e , and in multiplying I will multiply thy seed as the stars of t h e heaven, and as the sand which is upon the sea shore; and thy seed shall possess the gate of his enemies; (Gen 22: "); array_files[209]=new Array(0,4,"http://www.restorationministry.com/Open_Face/html/pdf/openface-51.pdf","2007-02-21","318K"," Open Face 51.p65","","","2 Cor. 3;18 Open Face NOVEMBER 2006 No. 51 The Two covenants David Clayton received is to be communicated to others. One interest will prevail, one subject will swallow up all others, Christ our Righteousness. - (Paulson Collection ­ 342) This is a thought-provoking statement and one which should make us give c a r e f u l thought to the question of where our emphasis should really be placed. The more I have come to understand the implications of the righteousness of Christ, the more clearly I have seen the truthfulness of this statement of Ellen white. ne of the important questions which faces us today is the question of what focus our work should take. As we seek to share truth, to minister to others, what aspect of Gods truth should we regard as most critical? What particular element of the truth should we concentrate our energies upon? Ellen White makes an interesting statement in the Paulson collection. On page 342 she says, The end is near. We have not a moment to lose. Light is to shine forth from Gods people in clear, distinct rays, bringing Jesus before the churches and before the world. God will give additional light, and old truths will be rec o v e r e d and replaced in the framework of truth; and wherever the laborers go they will triumph. As Christs ambassadors, they are to search the Scriptures to seek for the truths that have been hidden beneath the rubbish of error, and every ray of light makes a statement which brings this issue into focus and very clearly explains what message, what ministry God has given us. He says, . . . . our sufficiency is of God; (6) Who also hath made us able ministers of the new testament; (covenant) not of the letter, but of the spirit: for the letter killeth, but the spirit giveth life. (2 Cor 3:5-6) In that he saith, A new covenant, he hath made the first old. Now that which decayeth and waxeth old is ready to vanish away. (Heb 8:13) God has made us ministers of the New Testament, or of the new covenant (the word covenant is translated from the Greek word, diatheke "); array_files[210]=new Array(0,4,"http://www.restorationministry.com/Open_Face/html/pdf/openface-50.pdf","2007-02-21","582K"," Open Face 50.p65","","","2 Cor. 3;18 Open Face SEPTEMBER 2006 No. 50 Freedom in Europe David Clayton Germany I left home on Thursday July 27, 2006, bound for Berlin, Germany, by way of Heathrow airport in London. I Flew out of Montego Bay at 7:30 P.M. but we stopped in Kingston where we experienced a frustrating delay and aggravating treatment at the Kingston airport. We finally left there at some minutes to 11. After a flight of nine and a half hours I arrived in London on Friday July 28 at 1:20 PM. Here there was another wait of almost eight hours but finally I left sometime after 9.00 P.M. and, arrived in Berlin some time after 10.00 oclock. I was met by brother Erwin Zoor and brother Martin. It had been a year since I last saw Erwin and we were overjoyed to meet again, however, I was tired and slept for most of the four hour journey to home. The following day was Sabbath, and my duties began immediately. I worshipped at the home church in the home of brother and sister Gurtner where I was asked to give the sermon. I spoke on the Righteousness of Christ with special emphasis on His finished work. About 20 persons were present. In the afternoon we went home to sleep because both Erwin and I were still very tired from being up so late the night before. The next day we left for the first leg of this European trip. This was to be a c a m p m e e t i n g in a place named Darlingerode about four hours away. I arrived at this campmeeting with the expectation that I would speak eleven (11) times. However when I arrived I discovered that one of the scheduled speakers was absent because of illness and I was asked to take two extra slots!! On Monday, I spoke twice. The topics of the messages were, Human and divine spirit, and The nature of righteousness. My aim was to present Righteousness by faith in a systematic way, building on each idea step by step so that the people would be able to understand firstly, the connection between t h i s message and the truth of the godhead, and secondly that they could be able to understand the implications "); array_files[211]=new Array(0,4,"http://www.restorationministry.com/Open_Face/html/pdf/openface-49.pdf","2007-02-21","280K"," Open Face 49.p65","","","2 Cor. 3;18 Open Face JULY 2006 No. 49 Why The Sinner Had to Die David Clayton working in harmony with them. The rules are built into nature and we cannot change them or adjust them. These laws simply describe the way nature works and they are called laws because nature compels all things to behave in conformity to those particular principles. We must work in harmony with them. One such law is the law of gravity. This law compels us to behave in a certain way with the sure knowledge that if we change our behaviour, drastic consequences will follow. For example, I may not agree with the law of gravity and so may step from the roof of a 50 story building. I will speedily find out that by not acting in harmony with the law of gravity I have suffered severe consequences. I may not like natural laws, but if I disregard them, unhappy consequences are sure to follow. This is true of all natural laws. have to enforce these laws. They do this by imposing penalties for transgressing the laws which they themselves must enforce. Of course, many judicial laws, established by various governments are faulty and even unjust. But God is the author of all natural law. Natural law is always good. He designed the universe in a perfect way with these natural laws built in to ensure that life would exist and continue in a pattern of balance and harmony. The nature of moral law The moral law has been said to be a transcript of Gods character. As this moral law is outlined in the Ten Commandments it is stated in a somewhat limited way and does not express the fullness of Gods character and may better be described as an expression of Gods character, rather than an exa c t transcript. However, when the moral law is properly understood in all its deeper implications, it certainly expresses what God is like in His moral nature and may be appropriately described as a transcript of His character. This means that The moral law is what God is. God did not make the moral law, all He did was put into words what He was and gave it to us as the w "); array_files[212]=new Array(0,4,"http://www.restorationministry.com/Open_Face/html/pdf/openface-48.pdf","2007-02-21","687K"," Open Face 48.p65","","","2 Cor. 3;18 Open Face MAY 2006 No. 48 David Clayton If in the resurrection I will have a new body, made of different particles of matter then how will I be the same person? The word of God teaches very clearly that the new body received will not be the same as the original bodies we received when we were originally born into the world. So also is the resurrection of the dead. It is sown in corruption; it is raised in incorruption: (43) It is sown in dishonour; it is raised in glory: it is sown in weakness; it is raised in power: (44) It is sown a natural body; it is raised a spiritual body. There is a natural body, and there is a spiritual body. (1 Cor 15:42-44) Ellen White agrees with the Bible that the bodies we receive in the resurrection will not be made up of the same material substance as the original body. O u r personal identity is preserved in the resurrection, though not the same particles of matter o r material substance as went i n t o the grave. The wondrous works of God are a mystery to man. The spirit, the character of man, is returned to God, there to be preserved. In the resurrection e v e r y man will have his own character. God in His own time will call forth the dead, giving again the breath of life, and bidding the dry bones live. The same form will come forth, but it will be free from disease and every defect. It lives again bearing the same individuality of features, so that friend will recognize friend. There is no law of God in nature which shows that God gives back t h e same identical particles of matter which composed the body before death. God shall give the righteous dead a body that will please Him. (Mar 301) So the question is, since I will receive a completely different body, what is it about me that will make me the same exact person, the same individual as the person who lived my life on earth before I died? Well, someone may say, God is able to give you the same thoughts and memories. That is true, but then that still leaves the question, will that be me, or simply someone r "); array_files[213]=new Array(0,4,"http://www.restorationministry.com/Open_Face/html/pdf/openface-47.pdf","2007-02-21","344K"," Open Face 47.p65","","","2 Cor. 3;18 Open Face MARCH 2006 No. 47 David Clayton was no speaking in other languages, there has not been any healing of the sick or raising of the dead. How do I know? What evidence is there that I am in Christ and have received of His life? This question was not mine originally. As I have spoken on the subject of what it means to be in Christ and rejoiced in the truth of complete salvation in Christ more than one person has asked me, where is the evidence? So I had to face the question, what is your proof? Where is the evidence indeed? Does this definition encompass the question which I asked myself, how can a man really know that he is in Christ? Does it answer the question of what evidence a man should look for as testimony to his position in Christ? I believe that Pauls definition of faith covers this question. A person needs to look for no evidence as to the fulfillment of Gods word other than the fact that he believes it. All the evidence to the contrary in the entire world cannot overthrow the faithfulness of Gods word. Our eyes, our feelings may tell us otherwise, but the word of God is the truth, regardless. It is the statement of how things really are. When we believe, then that is the evidence. Faith is its own proof. When a man believes then he knows it is so and no evidence in the world can be stronger than that or can overthrow such proof. So a person will rejoice with all his heart in what he believes even though all the evidence in the world seems to contradict what faith proves to him to be true. We read in 1 John 3:9, Whosoever is born of God doth n o t commit sin; for his seed ne of the most thought-provok ing definitions of faith is found in Hebrews 11:1. Paul begins this great chapter by saying, Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. (Heb 11:1) Not many people would have described or defined faith in this way. Probably the popular definition would run something like this: faith is believing something with all your heart even when you cannot see "); array_files[214]=new Array(0,4,"http://www.restorationministry.com/Open_Face/html/pdf/openface-46.pdf","2007-02-21","360K"," Open Face 46.p65","","","2 Cor. 3;18 Open Face JANUARY 2006 No. 46 Wit hout The Law David Clayton on their observance of the law. They believe that such an idea will destroy reverence for the law and will lead to a religion which is indolent, lazy and void of good works. However, let us put our misconceptions aside and allow the Bible to speak. If, as Ellen White says, righteousness is right-doing, and this is the true definition of righteousness, then it is clear that there can be no righteousness unless somebody does what is right. This is simple and so easy to understand that most people conclude that the ans w e r to their problem of unrighteousness is simply to start doing what is right. However, those who are honest soon encounter an insurmountable problem. They discover that they have taken on an impossible task, for all their efforts to do good only end in failure and they discover that it is impossible for them to do what is right, that is, they cannot become righteous by doing good. Some who are dishonest convince themselves that they are succeeding and that they are righteous b e c a u s e they observe the outward forms of the law, but such righteousness is no better than filthy rags and produces only hypocrisy. It is clear that man cannot become righteous by obeying the law, yet, since righteousness is right-doing, there can be no righteousness unless right is done. Unless the law is kept. Ellen White also says that the only definition of sin is that, sin is the transgression of the law. This indicates that sin cannot arise unless the law is transgressed. The opposite of sin, is righteousness. If we say that a person cannot be a sinner unless he transgresses the law, then it must be equally true that a person cannot be righteous unless he observes the law, or does right. Is this in harmony with the teaching of Scripture? Righteousness without law In seeming contradiction the Bible speaks of a righteousness which is without the law. If righteousness is defined by the law, how can there be righteousness, without the law as Pa "); array_files[215]=new Array(0,4,"http://www.restorationministry.com/Open_Face/html/pdf/openface-45.pdf","2007-02-21","342K"," Open Face 45.p65","","","2 Cor. 3;18 Open Face NOVEMBER 2005 No. 45 WaterThe Art of Water-Walking David Clayton tity of the figure on the water would he have dared to venture out of the boat? I dont think so. He knew that it was Jesus and it was on that basis that he made his request. What is more difficult to understand is, what was his motive in asking? Was it simply that he wished to experience the thrill of walking on water? Was he thinking of what a great story he would have to tell his grandchildren? Was it that he was so anxious to meet Jesus that he could not wait until He got into the boat? None of these suggestions make much sense, but what is certain is that Jesus immediately spoke one word. Without hesitating He said, come. J e s u s response is as puzzling as Peters request, but it was not untypical of the way He operated. There rarely ever was a time when He denied the request of any person no matter how unreasonable or unrealistic it seemed. For example, when He was asked to turn water into wine in Cana of Galil e e , He complied, even when it seemed that it was contrary to His plans. There was no apparent need to grant Peters request. On the surface of it, it seems that Peter just wanted to get a thrill, or to show off to the other disciples. Whatever the reason, Jesus told him to come, and immediately Peter stepped out of the boat and began to walk on the water. It was as easy as breathing. Peter had never studied the theory and practice of walking on water. He had never trained himself to walk lightly, he had never discussed the mental and spiritual attitude or the physical qualifications necessary to successful waterwalking. His eyes were fixed on Jesus and on the strength of that single word, spoken by lips that could neither lie nor fail, he stepped out of the boat in perfect peace and confidence. No human being will ever be able to explain the mechanics of what happened. It is useless even to think about it. Perhaps the sea suddenly became as solid as stone, or maybe Peter became as light as a helium-filled ballo "); array_files[216]=new Array(0,4,"http://www.restorationministry.com/Open_Face/html/pdf/openface-44.pdf","2007-02-21","376K"," Open Face 44 Revised.p65","","","2 Cor. 3;18 Open Face SEPTEMBER 2005 No. 44 Tr Free We Can Be Truly Free David Clayton balanced in the light of the teaching of the rest of the Scriptures. The fact is, my love alone, by itself, no matter how great it is or how motivated I am, will never ever enable me to serve God perfectly and I found that out in my own experience. While my heart overflowed with the wonder of Gods love as I explored and even spoke on topics such as, the heart of God, I found to my chagrin that the euphoria a n d the mountain-top experiences which I enjoyed at such times did not enable me to have complete and continuous victory over sin. Have you found this to be true in your experience? Oh praise God, there is a solution to the problem!! and appreciate. As Ellen White puts it, .... The Holy Spirit is Himself (Christ) divested of the personality of humanity and independent thereof. He would represent Himself as present in all places by His Holy Spirit, as the Omnipresent. {14MR 23.3} The first truth teaches me that God loves me so much that He gave His Son FOR me. When I appreciate this, love for God is born in my heart. I want to serve Him, I am motivated to give my life completely to Him. The goodness of God leads me to repentance (Rom. 2:4). The second truth teaches me that God gave His Son TO me, and that literally, the very life of His Son becomes my own life. When I understand, appreciate and believe this, total victory over sin becomes my reality!! (John 14:17; 2 Cor. 3:17; John 17:23) I know that this is an extravagant claim, b u t brothers and sisters, we have known for some time that we held the pearl of great price in our hands, didnt we? Can there ever be any message which may truly be called a message of deliverance if it does not set us w h o l l y free from sins dominion? (Rom. 6:14). Did not the early apostles enjoy not just the manifestation of the gifts of the spirit but also an experience of constant victory over sin? Did not God make us know in 1888 that the message which He then sent to the church was the "); array_files[217]=new Array(0,4,"http://www.restorationministry.com/Open_Face/html/pdf/openface-43.pdf","2007-02-21","425K"," Open Face 43.p65","","","2 Cor. 3;18 Open Face JULY 2005 No. 43 From Delivered From The Law David Clayton we were held; that we should serve in newness of spirit, and not in the oldness of the letter. (Rom 7:6) But if ye be led of the Spirit, ye are not under the law. (Gal 5:18) M o s t often when Seventh-day Adventists are called upon to explain these verses they try to explain them by using a popular illustration. The explanation has been that being, under the law simply means to be under the condemnation of the law and the illustration used is, if a man goes through a red-light, he comes under the condemnation of the law because the law finds him guilty. If he does not go through the red-light, he is not under t h e law but the moment he goes through the red-light, he immediately comes under the law. that which was made glorious had no glory in this respect, by re a s o n of the glory that excelleth. (11) For if that which i s done away was glorious, m u c h more that which remaineth is glorious. (12) Seei n g then that we have such hope, we use great plainness of speech: (13) And not as Moses, which put a veil over his face, that the children of Israel could n o t stedfastly look to the end of that which is abolished: (2 Cor 3:7-13) There can be little doubt as to what Paul was talking about here. What was i t in the time of Moses that was engraven in stones? It was the 10 commandments. The rest of the law was written with the hand of Moses, but that which was written and engraven in stones was specifically the 10 commandments. H e goes on to say, (`if that was glorious,)how shall not the ministration of the spirit be rather glorious? In these verses Paul is contrasting two things. Hes setting two things in opposition to one another. One is the ministration of the law of the 10 commandments, which he calls the ministration of death and he says that it was glori- T here are certain verses in the Bible, especially in the New Testament which most Seventh-day Adventists find difficult to explain. My father who used to be a Seventh-day "); array_files[218]=new Array(0,4,"http://www.restorationministry.com/Open_Face/html/pdf/openface-42.pdf","2007-02-21","365K"," Open Face 42.p65","","","2 Cor. 3;18 Open Face MARCH MAY 2005 No. 42 DID JESUS DIE THE SECOND DEATH? SECOND DEATH? David Clayton than death. So I gave the matter more careful thought and as a consequence, I have here revisited the subject, taking what I hope is a more systematic approach. lake of fire is created by the fire which comes down from heaven (Rev. 20:4) and destroys the wicked. However, this is also an idea which needs to be reconsidered. Revelation 20:14 tells us that death and hell are cast into the lake of fire. But death and hell are not tangible things, they are not physical things which may be moved around. Death is the absence of life and hell is simply the grave, the place of the dead (Greek - Hades). What is God telling us when He says that they are cast into the lake of fire? He is simply saying that they cease to exist. That they will be no more, never ever again for all eternity . When they cease to exist then they are said to be in the lake of fire. In other words, the lake of fire is not a literal burning place. It is simply a term which is used to describe a condition where things no longer exist. It is true that fire will come down from God out of heaven, to destroy the wicked (Rev. 20:9), but this fire is not the lake of fire. While this fire which devours the wicked is real, the lake of fire is a figurative place, which describes a condition, rather than a literal place. This is similar to the smoke of their torment in Revelation 14:11 which we are told, ascends up forever and ever. It is not literal smoke, What is the Second Death? There are only two places in the Bible where we are told what the second death is. These are found in Revelation 20:14 and Revelation 21:8. And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the s e c o n d death. (Revelation 20:14) But the fearful, and unbelievi n g and the abominable, and murders, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death. (Revelati "); array_files[219]=new Array(0,4,"http://www.restorationministry.com/Open_Face/html/pdf/openface-41.pdf","2007-02-21","354K"," Open Face 41b.p65","","","2 Cor. 3;18 Open Face JANUARY 2005 No. 41 for Tr Standing for The Tr uth Sally Specht Many say that the doctrine of God is a mystery, but Deut. 29:29 says; The secret things belong unto t h e Lord our God; but those things which are revealed belong to us and to our children fore v e r. George Night quotes many statements from the book Evangelism, which was actually a compilation done by Leroy Froom and others, for the chief purpose of convincing the SDA church that sister White believed in a Trinity. Im not sure Ellen White ever really had in mind that her books would be used as compilations. They can be very one sided and unbalanced and many things can be `taken out of their connection as she puts it. But then much has been done to her writings as well as Uriah Smiths and others that is really totally illegal. I have also noticed these men seldom quote the Bible for proof. Sister White says in the Spalding and Magan Collection, Page 174 ` B u t dont you quote Sister White. I dont want you ever to quote Sister White.... until you get your vantage ground where you know where you are. Quote the Bible. Talk the Bible. And yet in all the documents that prove a Trinity, it is almost always Sister Whites quotes that are used. The Bible just cannot be used to prove a Trinity. There are a few texts to allude to it, but that is not Bible proof. The Sunday keeping churches, say the same things on the state of the dead, the sacredness of Sunday etc. That is, the Bible alludes to it. When God brought the early pioneers together right after the Great Disappointment, He wanted a church that was in perfect harmony with His plan of redemption and the Gospel. Would God bring a people together forming Bible based doctrines in those early years, doctrines that we hold today, and not be very specific about the foundational doctrine of who God is? In `A Call to the Watchmen pg. 14 sister White speaks of the basis of our foundation. They gather together a mass of Scripture, and pile it as proof around their asserted theories. T h i "); array_files[220]=new Array(0,4,"http://www.restorationministry.com/Open_Face/html/pdf/openface-40.pdf","2007-02-21","370K"," Open Face 40.p65","","","2 Cor. 3;18 Open Face NOVEMBER 2004 No. 40 Chris Thoughts on Chr ists Divinity David Clayton very now and then questions arise concerning the nature of Christ in the incarnation. In particular, the question of w h e t h e r or not He was fully possessed o f divine power while He was fully a human being keeps surfacing. Even a m o n g those who fully agree on the truth about God and His Son, there are often queries concerning the reality of the death of Christ. Since it is believed that Jesus possessed all divine power while He was here, the logical conclusion is that He did not completely die on Calvary and furthermore, that He had the power to, and did indeed raise Himself from the dead after His crucifixion. Truth is a consistent chain with every part linked to the other. I learned that many years ago and I have found it to be an inflexible rule. It is always true. Whenever our ideas are not in line with truth then we find that when we try to harmonize these ideas with what is already established, there is a break in logic, a break in harmony. The inevitable result is that we have to readjust our beliefs in everything in order to make this new idea fit. This is what happened when the Catholic Church adopted the doctrine of the Trinity. Over the centuries they have followed through on the logic required by that first false idea and the inevitable result i s the confused mass of false and meaningless doctrines which are characteristic of that system today. The mystery of the trinity is the 1 E c e n t r a l doctrine of Catholic faith. Upon it are based all the o t h e r teachings of the church (Handbook for Todays Catholic - p.16) In this article we have endeavoured to examine this issue of whether or not Christ possessed divine power in Himself. We hope that the points presented will appeal to reason and logic. What we have endeavoured to do in this article is to be consistent with Bible truth. enly form and instead adopted a dwelling of clay. CHRISTS INCARNATION Let us consider something here: When that spiri "); array_files[221]=new Array(0,4,"http://www.restorationministry.com/Open_Face/html/pdf/openface-39.pdf","2007-02-21","0K","openface-39.pdf","","",""); array_files[222]=new Array(0,4,"http://www.restorationministry.com/Open_Face/html/pdf/openface-38.pdf","2007-02-21","588K","openface-38.pdf","","","Open Face No. 38 JULY 2004 ========================================================================================= Ch Chris Story Chris Walega My life has truly been an odyssey ever since I first asked God to help me, which happened about 5 years ago, when I was in the Marine Corps. I was in the Marines because my childhood left me mad as hell and I wanted to get back at the whole world. I wanted to hurt people I didnt even know. I know it sounds horrible, but this was truly my motivation in life. It sounds like a low place to be, but I actually got lower, God let me get to the place where I would finally beg for His help, and I did. He put me in the care of an Adventist pastor, a self-supporting independent, whose name was Pastor Robus. His ministry was something like John the Baptists. He was bold. (Now, I understand, that when many people hear about a bold man with a `John, the Baptist type of ministry, they imagine some wild, dangerous looking man who is in everybodys face, but not this guy. He was not that way--he was real. He was a nice, down to earth guy, whose talent from God was to be able to connect with real folks, folks who had heavy issues and actually needed to hear a few hard words instead of being continually pampered...) Robus had a remarkable personal testimony that revealed that none are too far out there to be out of the reach of a God that loves us. The depth and openness of his testimony really touched my heart and it was the first time that any kind of religious person said anything that got to me. I felt this was the answer to my prayer when I had cried for God to help me, and I settled it in my mind that I would give my life to this God. I use quotation marks here because I want to illustrate, that in my understanding at that time, God was mostly very vague. All I understood about God was that He is Almighty, Omniscient, and very Kind. I understood that I would have to stand before Him in judgment, so I reckoned that I should forsake my evil ways and live very carefully. Not long afte "); array_files[223]=new Array(0,4,"http://www.restorationministry.com/Open_Face/html/pdf/openface-37.pdf","2007-02-21","262K"," Microsoft Word - Openface 37.doc","","","Open Face No. 37 MAY 2004 ========================================================================================= Progress in Australia David Clayton General Impressions Our trip to Australia lasted for a little over four weeks. The trip was packed with assignments from the very beginning and for the entire duration of the four and a half weeks we did not have much more than a couple of days free. I had to remark at one point that I would always remember this trip as the days of the whirlwind. Our itinerary took us from Sydney to Brisbane, then to Perth on the other side of Australia, then back to Sydney, then to Melbourne, then to Sydney again and from there a trip back up to Brisbane which involved several stops and visits along the way. Initially we had been scheduled to spend a week in the Solomon islands, but the threat of unrest and a possible civil war indicated that it was best for us to cancel this trip. Instead we spent this time in Cooranbong, holding other meetings and having a couple of days of rest and recreation. We spoke in home school gatherings, public halls, private homes and in parks. Allen even had the privilege of discussing Adventism with a group of Lutherans in their church, and I had the privilege of speaking in an Assemblies of God Church, even though only the pastor and his wife turned up to listen. I also discussed the truth with a group of hippie type Christians who lived together in a type of commune and were strongly Trinitarian. The campmeeting in Numinbah was probably the high point of our visit. Thirteen persons were baptized at this campmeeting (Allen did the baptizing) and with the other 12 who were baptized at other places a total of 25 people were baptized during this trip. In addition we had the privilege of seeing several others come to an understanding and an appreciation of the truth about God. As in other countries the truth about God has crossed Adventisms boundaries in Australia like nothing else has ever done, and it is not only in the mainline SDA church that peo "); array_files[224]=new Array(0,4,"http://www.restorationministry.com/Open_Face/html/pdf/openface-36.pdf","2007-02-21","142K","openface-36.pdf","","","2 Cor. 3;18 Open Face MARCH 2004 No. 36 Truth The Truth of The Gospel David Clayton c) Christ passed through our experiences so that He could represent us. (Heb. 2:16, 17) d) Christ died to pay the penalty for our sins. (Rom. 6:8; 1 Cor. 15:3; Heb. 2:14) Let us take note of each of these points. It is most important that we recognize the significance of what Christ has done. This is the gospel. Without these four points the whole of our faith is a vain, meaningless exercise. It is a failure to recognize these points, to believe them and to come to grips with them which has led to the impotent, frustrating sham which today passes f o r Christianity in much of Christendom. have revealed that there are flaws in the character of God and that He is a person who cannot be trusted to do what is right when He is put under pressure. Later, as Jesus approached the moment of His death, Satan did everything possible through the enemies of Christ and even through His disciples to turn Him away from His purpose. Even while He hung dying on the cross Satan desperately attempted to move Him from His purpose with the taunts of the passersby, H e saved others; himself he cannot save. If he be the King o f Israel, let him now come d o w n from the cross, and we will believe him. He trusted in God; let him deliver him now, if he will have him: for he said, I a m the Son of God. (Mat 27:42-43) he gospel is the central teach ing of Christianity. In fact, we may rightly say that there is no truth contained in the Bible which does not find its center in the gospel. The word gospel signifies good news, and this focus on good news is what separates Christianity from every other religion. While other religions focus on how we can find a path to God, Christianity proclaims that God has made a path to us and dealt with all the factors which separated us from Him. T Satans primary objective In order for Satan to prevent the overthrow of his kingdom and keep his subjects (humanity) in bondage, his first objective had to be to prevent Christ "); array_files[225]=new Array(0,4,"http://www.restorationministry.com/Open_Face/html/pdf/openface-35.pdf","2007-02-21","204K","openface-35.pdf","","","2 Cor. 3;18 Open Face JANUARY 2004 No. 35 The Mark of Perfection David Clayton is identified as the true mark of a perfect Christian. What is this true mark? Let us see what it says in 1 Cor. 12:28 And God hath set some in the church, first apostles, secondarily prophets, thirdly teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of h e a l i n g s , helps, governments, diversities of tongues. Notice all the gifts which God put in the church. All these outstanding gifts are things to be coveted. The Mormons claim to have twelve apostles and a p r o p h e t . The Jehovahs witnesses claim that Judge Rutherford, their founder was a prophet, and Seventhday Adventists make the same claim for Ellen White. The gifts of the spirit are things to be coveted and are often seen as an indicator of Gods calling, the mark of the people of God. However, the apostle Paul continued with his argument in verses 29-31: Are all apostles? are all prophe t s ? are all teachers? are all workers of miracles? Have all t h e gifts of healing? do all speak with tongues? do all interpret? But covet earnestly the best gifts: and yet show I unto y o u a more excellent way. (1 Cor 12: 29-31) What was Paul talking about? He was about to show a way which was more excellent, but more excellent than what? A way which was more excellent than having the gifts of teaching, apostleship, prophecy, miracles, healing etc. There is a greater way than having the spirit of prophecy, there is a greater way than even keeping the commandments of God and having the testimony of Jesus Christ, in the way that we usually understand these two identifying marks. In other words he is saying, if you desire to set up a standard as the goal to be attained in your Christian life, here is what you are to go for. The greatest gift Now this chapter, first Corinthian 12 is followed immediately by one of the greatest chapters in the Bible. It is 1 Corinthians 13, and of course you know that this is the chapter which speaks of love and its importance and in general, deals with love in "); array_files[226]=new Array(0,4,"http://www.restorationministry.com/Open_Face/html/pdf/openface-34.pdf","2007-02-21","219K","openface-34.pdf","","","visas to enter Amsterdam and we did not relish the thought of spending ano t h e r night wandering around the Amsterdam airport without beds or baths. worse than that was the thought that we would not see our families on the following day, (Friday) as we were eagerly anticipating. By the grace of God we fell into the hands of a lovely lady who laboured diligently to find a solution for us. Finally she told us that we could get a flight in a couple of hours which would take us to Detroit instead. This flight would arrive in time for us to get a connecting flight to New York and in fact we would arrive there only a few hours later than originally scheduled. We would still be in time to catch our morning flight to Jamaica, though it would mean that we would not be able to spend the night with brother Larkland Heath as we had originally planned. We rejoiced at this news. Later however our anxiety returned when our flight was delayed for one, then two hours as mechanics laboured to repair a fault with one of the engines of the plane. Finally we were ready to go, but by the time we arrived in Detroit at 10.00 p.m. that night, it was too late to get to New York as the connecting flight was long gone. In addition, when the US customs officials discovered that Howard and I were returning from four African countries, they subjected us to the most thorough search and cross examination which we had ever experienced. Every item in our luggage was removed including little scraps of paper. Howards wallet was turned inside out and we were detained long after everyone else had cleared immigration. When finally we emerged, weary, and a little upset, we still felt a great relief to at least be in the USA and only one more flight away from home. Once more we went to the transfer desk and again God put us in the hands of a cheerful, cooperative lady. She joked with us as she roamed about on her computer trying to find our luggage and to find a way to get us home. Finally she announced cheerfully that in the morning we would take an "); array_files[227]=new Array(0,4,"http://www.restorationministry.com/Open_Face/html/pdf/openface-33.pdf","2007-02-21","322K"," C:Documents and SettingsDavid","","","2 Cor. 3;18 No. 33 Open Face SEPT 2003 Report on the Work in Europe David Clayton & Allen Stump (David Clayton and Allen Stump wrote the following report. Reference is noted for which author is writing. ) who was to be our guide for the entire duration of our stay in Europe. Though a very young man (only twenty-four), Erwin speaks English, Hungarian, and German very well. He also speaks some Romanian. He is in the forefront of the work in Germany and has already established a meaningful work there this past year. He has set up a website (heart4truth.de) dedicated to the truth about God. He has also translated many articles and some booklets from both Smyrna and Restoration Ministries that he has reprinted and distributed in many places. Every time Allen and I have met Erwin, his serious attitude and the intensity of his desire to serve God and to spread the truth about Him has impressed us. This trip was no exception. During the four weeks that we spent with Erwin, eating and sleeping together, praying, driving, studying, and working together, we were constantly impressed by his desire to serve and glorify God, and we believe God will use him powerfully in spreading the truth in Europe. come the city of Budapest. However, both sides are still separated by the Danube River. Hungary has many magnificent old castles and Budapest is no exception. We went to see a castle in a place called Trinity Way. There we saw an awful Trinitarian representation of God. There was a huge monument with all kinds of figures carved on it, and at the top there was a picture of an old bald-headed man representing God with a n o t h e r slightly more hairy figure seated beside him as Christ, and above them a metal dove with metal rays radiating out from it. Though it was great to consider the magnificence of the place, and to consider the history of the place which was filled with tourists, Erwin looked distinctly uneasy and said that he felt as if it was an evil place. David Clayton: Last year Allen Stump and I visited Europe and as w "); array_files[228]=new Array(0,4,"http://www.restorationministry.com/Open_Face/html/pdf/openface-32.pdf","2007-02-21","133K","openface-32.pdf","","","2 Cor. 3;18 Open Face JULY 2003 No. 32 White (part Ellen White and The Godhead (par t 2) David Clayton and high authority and rightful rule, he bowed with them; b u t his heart was filled with e n v y and hatred. Christ had b e e n taken into the special counsel of God in regard to His plans, while Lucifer was unacquainted with them. He did not understand, neither was he permitted to know, the purposes of God. But Christ was acknowledged sovereign of heaven, His power and authority to be the same as that of God Himself..... ....He left the immediate presence of the Father, dissatisfied a n d filled with envy against Jesus Christ. .... They were disc o n t e n t e d and unhappy because they could not look into His unsearchable wisdom and ascertain His purposes in exalting His Son, and endowing Him with such unlimited power and command. They rebelled a g a i n s t the authority of the Son. The Story of Redemption - p. 15 I t was reading the writings of Ellen White which caused me to have my first doubts concerning the doctrine of the Trinity. I was reading from the book, The Story of Redemption, the first chapter, and I recognized that according to Ellen White, there was a clear difference in the perception of the angels between God and Jesus in terms of authority. In fact, Lucifers rebellion began because God called Jesus into a council to plan the creation of planet earth, while Lucifer was excluded. He felt that if Jesus was called, then he also should have been called. He felt that he had a right to be given the same privileges as Jesus. It struck me as I read that Lucifer was not covetous of the Fathers position (which he evidently recognized was absolutely supreme and out of his reach) but he was envious of the position which the Father had given to Christ. Ellen White goes on to say that the Father assembled all the inhabitants of heaven and let them know that it was ordained by Himself that Christs authority should be equal with His own, His word to be as readily obeyed as the Fathers. Again I could see t "); array_files[229]=new Array(0,4,"http://www.restorationministry.com/Open_Face/html/pdf/openface-31.pdf","2007-02-21","187K"," C:Documents and SettingsDavid","","","2 Cor. 3;18 No. 31 Open Face MAY 2003 Ellen White and The Godhead (Part 1) David Clayton honest person will have to admit that there is a difficulty. However, it is possible that this difficulty can be resolved if we approach the issue in a reasonable and fair way. Just as with the study of the Bible, it is possible to arrive at a good understanding of the truth by carefully examining both sides of the issue with an open and honest mind, guided by the Holy Spirit. that she was in harmony with the teachings of the Bible and thus, was a true messenger of God. The Bible ­ Our Authority ...when we separated from the c h u r c h e s , and went forward s t e p by step in the light that God gave us. We then took the position that the Bible, and the Bible only, was to be our guide; and we are never to depart from t h i s position....--Letter 105, 1903. (Counsels to Writers and Editors, p. 145) B u t God will have a people upon the earth to maintain the Bible, and the Bible only, as the standard of all doctrines, and the basis of all reforms. ... Before accepting any doctrine or precept, we should demand a plain Thus saith the Lord in its support. (Great Controversy, p.595) Ellen White, as a prophet, may comment on the Bible, she may illuminate the Bible and clarify Scripture, but she cannot contradict the Bible. In addition, Ellen White insisted over and over that Gods people should obtain their doctrines from the Bible Only. With respect to her writings she stated, Our Approach T he late Walter Martin, world renowned cult-watcher and author once accused Ellen White o f being an anti-Trinitarian, who changed her mind later in life. Most of us reading this article would probably disagree with Mr. Martin. After all, we believe that Ellen White was Gods messenger and God does not change His mind. However, Mr. Martins declaration is a reflection on the seeming contradictions which appear whenever we begin to examine Ellen Whites statements on the Godhead. On the one hand, her anti-Trinitarian declarations are abundant and "); array_files[230]=new Array(0,4,"http://www.restorationministry.com/Open_Face/html/pdf/openface-30.pdf","2007-02-21","347K"," Open Face 30.p65","","","2 Cor. 3;18 Open Face FEBRUARY 2003 No. 30 Metamorphosis David Clayton Books of A New Order The first of these books is entitled, Understanding the Trinity, and was written by a retired Australian SDA minister named Max Hatton. Hatton was at first a Jehovahs Witness, but later, mostly because of the doctrine of the Trinity, he rejected the teachings of the Witnesses. Eventually he became a Seventh-day Adventist. His book was published in the year 2001. The second book is the Handbook of Seventh-day Adventist Theology. This book has been published as volume 12 of the Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary series and contains a significant section dealing with the issue of the Godhead. This book, of course, may be regarded as defining the official position of the SDA church and was published in the year 2001 by the Review and Herald Publishing Association. The third book is entitled, The Trinity, a n d is co-authored by Woodrow Whidden, Jerry Moon and John Reeve, all notable Seventh-day Adventist theologians. It is a fairly large book of 288 pages and is entirely dedicated to the subject of the Trinity. This is the latest book of the three and was published in the year 2002 by the Review and Herald Publishing Association. It is significant, that one of the purposes of these books had been to attempt to turn back the growing tide of Anti-Trinitarianism within Adventism. In the introduction of the latest book, The Trinity, it states, ...The greater surprise in my life and ministry has not been so much in deal- ing with zealous Jehovahs Witnesses on the Trinity ­ rather, it is now having t o meet essentially the same antiTrinitarian arguments coming from fellow Seventh-day Adventists. And they are raising this issue with an intensity not too far removed from the zeal of the Watchtower representatives. ...new challenges to the doctrine of the Trinity have arisen both from inside and outside of Adventism. Various reports and observations suggest that my own personal experience with this issue fairly reflects the curre "); array_files[231]=new Array(0,4,"http://www.restorationministry.com/Open_Face/html/pdf/openface-29.pdf","2007-02-21","226K"," D:Documents and SettingsDavid","","","2 Cor. 3;18 No. 29 Open Face DECEMBER 2002 THE REALITY OF THE MINISTRY OF CHRIST David Clayton even one moment? What about God Himself? Why didnt He also fight? How could the devil dare to think that he could, by force of conflict gain control of heaven? God has the power to wipe out Satan in an instant if He so chooses, but the Bible says there was war. There was a battle and Satan was cast out. Immediately this tells us that there are issues involved in the conflict between God and Satan which are more than simply the issue of who is stronger. And there was war in heaven: Michael and his angels fought a g a i n s t the dragon; and the dragon fought and his angels, and prevailed not; neither was their place found any more in heaven. And the great dragon was cast out, that old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan, which deceiveth the whole world: he was cast out into the earth, and his angels were cast out with him. And I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, Now is come salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of his Christ: for the accuser of our brethren is cast down, which accused them before our God day and night. (Revelation 12:7-10) Let us notice the name that Satan was called; he was called, the accuser of our brethren. The Bible says he was accusing them before God day and night, and when he was finally cast out of heaven, there was great rejoicing there. What time are we considering here, when Satan was cast out? Is this talking about in the very beginning when Satan first sinned and lost his place in heaven? No, this was after Christ died and returned to heaven. We know, because it says, the accuser of our brethren which accused them before our God day and night. voice. Let us consider something; Satan is called the accuser of our brethren. He apparently was in the habit of going before God, picking out every sin that Gods people on earth were committing, and accusing them before God. If Satan had not believed that his accusations carried some weight, would he have wasted so "); array_files[232]=new Array(0,4,"http://www.restorationministry.com/Open_Face/html/pdf/openface-28.pdf","2007-02-21","90K"," D:Documents and SettingsDavid","","","2 Cor. 3;18 No. 28 Open Face OCTOBER 2002 The Certainty of Adventism David Clayton dation wasnt really founded on the word of God. If we think about what this brother wrote, we can see right away some elements of imbalance in his way of thinking. 1999 dont believe as we believe. Our group alone believes what we believe. Now suppose one of the 1999 accepts what we believe, what happens then? Do we now have two versus 1998? No what we have is still 1998 versus one. Why? Because the one that accepts, now becomes a part of the Advent movement. There is still only one Advent movement. If three join, there is still only one Advent movement versus the rest, so it will always be Adventism versus the rest. The brothers representation doesnt give a true picture. Many who used to be a part of the 1999 other groups, thought Adventism made sense, and what did they do? They joined the Advent movement. His way of looking at it would make it look like nobody from these other groups ever thought that Adventism made any sense. But the fact is that many did, and many of them are now a part of Adventism. The question is not whether or not Adventism has some faults, the question is not whether or not Adventism is perfect. Adventism has many problems and many faults and we cannot deny that. There are some of our beliefs that need to be properly stated, that need to be adjusted, only the blindest will refuse to accept that. Some of our interpretations of prophecy need to be looked at closely. But the critical question is this: did the Almighty God of heaven raise up the Advent movement? The answer must either be yes or no. If it is yes, then we have a destiny, we have a purpose. If it is no, then none of us have any justification in belonging to this movement. The main doctrine of Adventism which nobody else in the world believes, is the doctrine of the end time a t o n e m e n t , the doctrine which teaches that in the end of time just before Jesus comes back to the earth, God is going to do a special work in heaven which will have "); array_files[233]=new Array(0,4,"http://www.restorationministry.com/Open_Face/html/pdf/openface-27.pdf","2007-02-21","432K"," D:Documents and SettingsDavid","","","2 Cor. 3;18 No. 27 Open Face AUGUST 2002 European Journey David Clayton During the month of July, 2002 from the 9th to the 29th, Brother Allen Stump a n d I (David Clayton) visited the c o u n t r i e s of Poland, Germany and N o r w a y , holding meetings and encouraging brethren there, especially those who have embraced the truth about God and His Son. This was a wonderful experience which emphasized for us the fact that God is at work in p r o m o t i n g the truth all over the world and is not dependent on any human agency though He gives u s the privilege of working with Him. Our newsletter this month is entirely taken up with a report of this trip. =================== the line without any sign of ours. Finally we were left staring at the empty conveyor (It was a good thing that both Allen and I had taken a change of underwear and an extra shirt in our carryon luggage because we did not receive our luggage until four days later!).We duly went to the appropriate authority to make our complaint all the time con- W e arrived in Poland at ap proximately 2.00 pm on Tuesday, July 10. I had very little idea of what to expect of the Poland, at first sight recountry and also of our minded me a little of both hosts whom I had only America and Jamaica. It Baptizing Brother Jacek Poreda in Poland met through email correwas clean, it had good spondence. The Krakow airport was roads (not as good as America but betscious of the fact that brother Jacek very small by international standards, ter than Jamaica) and the foliage was This perhaps contributed to the fact (pronounced Yatsik) Poreda would be like foliage in the US. However, it was waiting for us on the outside and hopthat we were ushered through customs evident that it was a poor country. ing and praying that he would not asvery quickly with me, as a Jamaican Many of the buildings were old and unhaving the longest delay as they had to sume that we had not arrived and leave. painted. Nevertheless, I found it to be This was important because we had no punch in certa "); array_files[234]=new Array(0,4,"http://www.restorationministry.com/Open_Face/html/pdf/openface-26.pdf","2007-02-21","341K"," Open Face 26.p65","","","2 Cor. 3;18 Open Face JUNE 2002 No. 26 The Sabbath and the trinity Kaj-R. Nilsen the Lord concerning this point: Moreover also I gave them my sabbaths, to be a sign between me and them, that they might know that I am the LORD that sanctify them. ­ Ezekiel 20:12 The sabbath is the covenant sign. The keeping of the Sabbath signifies a rest in God, a rest from our own frustrating attempts to be justified by our own efforts. It signifies faith in a living God that loves, that redeems and that gave His only begotten Son for us. He is able, and we must die to the flesh. So behind the Sabbath day there are much deeper issues at stake: faith, righteousness, love, a spirit-filled life of obedience ­ Christ in you, the hope of glory. Not I, but Christ is the watch-word of the believer. The true believers who have experienced the deeper significance of the Sabbath, will keep it both in the spiritual and the practical sense. It will be a sign between them and God that they belong to Him, that there is a living connection operating. as they do not rest in Christ and His righteousness. This group have either gone into a subtle form of legalism, or anti-nomianism / liberalism. Lastly, the majority of the world will learn about the Sabbath day and its significance, but will also reject it. But the great question is, Why will even Adventists advocate Sunday as a day of worship? And why will the Sabbath be evaluated as a question of minor importance by the world? Why is it even today seen as such? The Basis of Ecumenism The truth is that there is a particular reason the Sabbath is, and in a stronger sense will be, seen as not of primary importance. It has very much to do with ecumenism. What is ecumenism? It is a principle built on one very simple idea. This idea is that those people that worship the same God, should have no problems coming together and having fellowship even though they disagree on other doctrines. This idea is built on the premise that after all there is only one all-important doctrine. The question is, if you "); array_files[235]=new Array(0,4,"http://www.restorationministry.com/Open_Face/html/pdf/openface-25.pdf","2007-02-21","398K"," Open Face 25.p65","","","2 Cor. 3;18 Open Face APRIL 2002 No. 25 The Orthodox Trinity and Adventism Lloyd Martin the Trinity stands without equal as the most subtle and influential. This doctrine, while teaching the distinctiveness of Christ, at the same time denies His individuality (separateness as a being) by portraying Him as a derived projection of God the Father, thereby making Him a virtual non-entity. By this subtle teaching the true sonship as well as the deity of Christ is destroyed and in its wake, the infinite love of God. This doctrine which has engulfed Adventism since 1930 is obviously fraught with implications for the credibility and acceptance of our Church as Gods final remnant. It brings into question our churchs fitness to fulfill its specific mission to prepare a dying world for the long overdue return of our Saviour, Jesus Christ. No justification for our acceptance of the Trinity can possibly repair the damage done to the credibility of the founding fathers of our faith and to Seventh-day Adventism, which during the first 86 years of its e x i s t e n c e was decidedly antiTrinitarian. It must not be forgotten that all of the pioneers (with the great majority coming from a Trinitarian background) renounced this doctrine when they became Adventists. Sheer loyalty to our heritage as well as common sense demand that we must investigate this doctrine. Almost everyone who professes belief in the Trinity has, at best, only a limited knowledge of the doctrine and this in itself speaks volumes. These facts make the question as to whether or not a discussion on the subject is relevant, quite redundant. The basis of my faith Lest there be questions as to what exactly the basis of this supposedly new thing I have espoused is, let me state that it is the oldest position of all, the same as was held by the first post biblical (after AD 100) believers known as the apostolic fathers and the apologists as well as the waldenses and the Adventist pioneers. This historical basis is the belief that the Scriptures teach that Christ w "); array_files[236]=new Array(0,4,"http://www.restorationministry.com/Open_Face/html/pdf/openface-24.pdf","2007-02-21","89K"," D:Documents and SettingsDavid","","","2 Cor. 3;18 No. 24 Open Face FEBRUARY 2002 PHILADELPHIA OR LAODICEA? David Clayton apostolic era from the time of Jesus, until the time of the death of the last apostle about A. D. 100. Smyrna would cover from about A. D. 100, to A. D. 313, and Pergamos would go from about 313 to about 538 when the papacy was fully established as a dominant power. Thyatira would span the period of papal supremacy, from 538 to about 1517, when the Protestant reformation began under Martin Luther, and Sardis would cover the Protestant period, from about 1517 to about 1833, when the great second Advent movement began under William Miller. The Philadelphian period, continued from the time that William Miller started to preach in 1833, until about sometime in the 1840s when the Seventh Day Adventist church began. The Seventh Day Adventist church, would be from the eighteen forties until the coming of Jesus, which is the Laodicean period. This is the way it is explained, and if this is the way you understand the interpretation of the seven churches, then logically if you want to be saved and be a part of Gods program in the last days, then you will have to be in the Laodician, church. Likewise, if you accept that the Seventh Day Adventist church is the Laodician church, then the natural conclusion is that you have to be a member of this church in order to be saved. This is the kind of thinking, that has led to statements like the following, which were taken from the Adventist Review, published a few years ago: It (the S. D. A church) is Gods created, appointed, and only means for the salvation of sinners. . . . . It is the gate of heaven for the sin sick soul.. . . No one pretends that Gods church is blameless, or that it has no fault, but it is Gods church and all should stand back and let God deal with his possession. Review, February 1995, page 2 (Inter-American edition). Many have been tempted to doubt our remnant status or special calling. They are making a mistake that may last for eternity. Inspiration tells us, that God will "); array_files[237]=new Array(0,4,"http://www.restorationministry.com/Open_Face/html/pdf/openface-23.pdf","2007-02-21","405K"," Untitled-1","","","2 Cor. 3;18 No. 23 Open Face DECEMBER 2001 TRIP DOWN UNDER Report by David Clayton p.m. I would have a wait of close to eight hours before my flight to Australia left at midnight. However, I had not calculated for the time difference between West Virginia and Los Angeles. We landed in LA at approximately 1 p.m. and I realized that I actually had close to twelve hours before my flight to Australia. During those twelve hours I became increasingly regretful that I had neglected to take a supply of tracts with me. Boxes of literature had been sent ahead of us, but in the frenzy of getting ready to leave, I forgot to take some in my carry-on luggage. Los Angeles airport is an international hub from which flights were constantly leaving for China, Hawaii, New Zealand, Australia, Japan, Europe and all sorts of e x o t i c places. There were all kinds of people there but, without any tracts, I found it difficult to start a conversation and spent much of my time looking at people and f e e l i n g lonely, or else working on my laptop as best as I could with all the distractions around. One bright spot was when I called home and heard Jens voice. At that moment I wished with all my heart that she could have been with me. By the time the Boeing 747-400 took off at midnight I was feeling dirty, not sure if it was time to sleep or wake up, and my bottom was sore from sitting so long. I rightly guessed that the 14-hour trip was going to seem much longer than it really was. Somewhere in the middle of the flight I realized that my time clock was thoroughly confused. They gave us supper shortly after we got on the plane at 12 midnight. While this was midnight Los Angeles time, it was 3 a.m. in West Virginia from where I had left that morning (my body was still operating on that time). At the same time, it was 6 p.m. in Australia which was the time my body would have to become accustomed to. Having left at midnight, I expected, of course, to begin to see daylight in about 6 hours. However, the plane flew with the night all the w "); array_files[238]=new Array(0,4,"http://www.restorationministry.com/Open_Face/html/pdf/openface-22.pdf","2007-02-21","92K","openface-22.pdf","","","2 Cor. 3;18 Open Face AUGUST 2001 No. 22 THE NATURE OF CHRIST From The Bible and Ellen G. White at the same time, they are distinct aspects of any intelligent being. (if this concept is new to you, send for our audio tape entitled, The Biblical View of The Holy Spirit.). Bearing all this in mind we have endeavoured to put together a sampling of quotations from the Bible and the writings of Ellen White which we believe will help to clarify the issue of exactly what was the nature of the Son of God when He became flesh and dwelt among us of the divine nature.--Letter 81, 1896. ( 1 B C - 1085) ­What love! What amazing condescension! The King of glory proposed to humble Himself to fallen humanity! He would place His feet in Adams steps. He would take mans fallen nature, and engage to cope with the strong foe who triumphed over Adam. He would overcome Satan, and in thus doing He would open the way for the redemption from the disgrace of Adams failure and fall, of all those who would believe on Him ( Manuscript Releases Volume Seventeen - 29) ­ Christ assumed our fallen nature, and was subject to every temptation to which man is subject.--Ms 80, 1903, p. 12. M any questions continue to arise concerning the divinity of Christ. When He was here on earth, was He divine or wasnt He? Did He retain His divinity or did He lay it aside? Was it a divine Being who paid the price for the sins of humanity or was the death of Christ merely the offering of a human sacrifice? Critical to a proper understanding of this issue is the question of what nature Christ took in the incarnation. Was it the sinful, or the sinless nature? Could He take sinful nature and still be a divine Being? How could He be sinless if He partook of sinful, fallen flesh? The questions and the arguments go on and on. It is not possible for a person to resolve the questions and seeming contradictions surrounding this issue unless he first of all understands the true nature of intelligent beings, whether they be divine, angelic or human. It is necessary that we "); array_files[239]=new Array(0,4,"http://www.restorationministry.com/Open_Face/html/pdf/openface-21.pdf","2007-02-21","92K","openface-21.pdf","","","2 Cor. 3;18 Open Face JUNE 2001 No. 21 THE FIGHT OF FAITH David Clayton Christlike character. The real issue is this: Am I like Jesus? Am I ready to meet Him now? If the answer is no, then everything else is meaningless. sin, and because of this I cannot stop sinning. They place a limit on Gods power. They do not believe He can, and will deliver them here and now from the power of sin. But whether in heaven, or on earth, or in me, all things are possible with God. IS COMPLETE VICTORY TRULY POSSIBLE? 1 John 3:9 reads: W h o s o e v e r is born of God doth not commit sin.... I must confess that this text has caused me to ask myself many questions and has caused a few anxious moments. At times I have had to ask myself, can it be that I am not born of God? The point of the text is very simple: A certain kind of person will not sin; does not sin. My question is, why am I not that kind of person? Truly, it is not because we do not try. It is not for lack of effort. We make resolutions, we pray harder, we fight with all our might for years and years. Yet, like the man in Romans 7, we find that: ......I delight in the law of God after the inward man: But I see a n o t h e r law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members. Rom. 7:22,23 Yet there is a way. There is a sure way to the life of victory. Paul said, I can do all things through Christ...... and Jesus Himself stated that, with God all things are possible (Phil. 4:13; Matt. 19:26). How much is comprehended in this ALL THINGS? is anything at all impossible for God? Some say, He can do all things, but I was born in HOW MAY THIS VICTORY BE OBTAINED? On the other hand, how much is possible without God? ... . . Wi t h o u t Me ye can do nothing. John 15:5 Nothing is possible without God (in terms of spiritual accomplishments)! To put it another way, all things are impossible without God. This settles it forever then that the only hope for me is to find the way that God may do His way in m "); array_files[240]=new Array(0,4,"http://www.restorationministry.com/Open_Face/html/pdf/openface-20.pdf","2007-02-21","83K","openface-20.pdf","","","2 Cor. 3;18 Open Face APRIL 2001 No. 20 The Measure of Gods Love (Part 2) David Clayton I can never do something today that is so evil that it surprises Him. He contemplated these things from eternity, and still thought it was worthwhile to give His son to die for me. Therefore dont you ever question the love of God. You cannot do something so bad that it cuts you off from that love. It might cut you off from the manifestation of that love, He might not be able to show it to you, because you have shut the door in His face, but you cannot stop Him from loving you. Never let the question come into your mind again. When you pray and dont seem to get an answer, Remember that God in love and wisdom is working out something better for you.. you from the love of God, as though Satan has power over God. Now here is a phrase that comes a little later on. He says: Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us. Let me ask a question: Who is a conqueror and how do you conquer? You conquer by fighting and overcoming. isnt that right? The man who fights against another man and beats him, is a conqueror, but who is, more than a conqueror? You go to fight against somebody, and the man you go to fight against starts fighting on your side. You dont have to fight. He starts fighting on your behalf, so you are more than a conqueror. You dont have to fight and you dont have to conquer him, because even your enemies fight for you. Thats what he says! Who shall separate us from the love of God? tribulation, distress, life, death, persecution, angels, principalities powers? Nothing can come between you and the love of God! That love of God is like a wall around you which is secure and safe, and nothing can come through that wall without being measured and tested by God. If it is good for you, He lets it od always loves us whether or not it is evident, but sometimes when He is silent we begin to question that love. We sometimes say, Lord I need some money, I am having this problem and you are not solvin "); array_files[241]=new Array(0,4,"http://www.restorationministry.com/Open_Face/html/pdf/openface-19.pdf","2007-02-21","83K"," (2).PDF","","","2 Cor. 3;18 Open Face FEBRUARY 2001 No. 19 THE MEASURE OF GODS LOVE David Clayton This article is the first part of a transcript of a taped message. The second part will follow in the next issue of Open Face. I love thee, I love thee and that thou dost know, but how much I love thee, my actions will show. In other words, the degree of our love for Jesus is manifested by the degree of our obedience. Think of a man who cannot stop smoking, and drinking. He is addicted to these bad habits. All his life he tries to stop smoking but he cannot stop. Then he meets the girl of his dreams and finds that she cant stand the smell of cigarette smoke. Why does he now find the strength that he could never find all his life, to stop smoking immediately? He found the power of love. Jesus is saying, the degree of your obedience is the measure of the kind of love that you have for me. If you love me you will keep my words. God is saying to me, if you cant obey me, it is because you dont love me. fest myself to him. The question that came to me as I read that verse is, what did Jesus mean by saying, will love him? The meaning of His words is explained in that last line where He says, ...will manifest myself to him. To manifest yourself means to show or reveal yourself. In our homes we have needs and we pray about them but what happens? No answer! God cannot manifest himself in our homes. We have needs and we pray, and it seems as if the heavens are brass. Like God has closed glory against us. There is no answer to our prayers. We are in our homes and the gun man is passing around the district, and we are in fear, like everybody else. We dont have the manifestation of Gods presence in our homes. We dont sense or feel or experience the love of God. Why? Because we have not kept His commandments, and have not loved Him or kept His words. Therefore He cannot reveal himself the way He wants to. He says, look here! there is a promise that I give to you. A wonderful, great and true promise. He says, There are some people who are going "); array_files[242]=new Array(0,4,"http://www.restorationministry.com/Open_Face/html/pdf/openface-18.pdf","2007-02-21","116K","openface-18.pdf","","","2 Cor. 3;18 No. 18 Open Face DECEMBER 2000 THE DIVINITY OF CHRIST David Clayton duced the concept that things which God has revealed in His word were too high for the contemplation of human minds and consequently forbade the study of the Scriptures. Contradictions Some who claim to be earnest Christians have embraced the following ideas all of which they claim to be the truth. people spend a lot of time arguing unnecessarily, sometimes for many hours, simply because both parties have different understandings of a particular word. Therefore let me clarify my words at the beginning. The word God, when used with reference to the true God has two applications in the Scriptures. 1. Firstly, it is used as a title with reference to the Supreme Being in the universe, the One who is over all others, the source of all things. 2. Secondly, it is used to refer to the qualities and attributes of divinity. When the word, God is used as a title to refer to the supreme Being in the universe, how many Beings, or Persons does it refer to? If the Scriptures are true, then it can refer to one Being only. In this sense, the Father is, the only true God (John 17:3), there is but one God, the Father (1 C o r . 8:6), there is none other [God]but He (Mark 12:32), there is but one God and Father of all (Eph. 4:6). These verses clearly declare that I n undertaking to write on this topic I am aware that I am treading on sacred ground. I am mindful of the fact that there is the need for caution and reverence in approaching this subject. I have not undertaken it without earnest prayer and much thought. Yet I am also aware that this article is necessary because there is much confusion, misunderstanding and assumption in this area, as a consequence of which multitudes are in darkness concerning the true identity and nature of Christ. Every word of inspiration is given to us for our learning. By these words God is seeking to help us to understand divine truths; both simple and profound. It is my conviction that in studying these words of God a "); array_files[243]=new Array(0,4,"http://www.restorationministry.com/Open_Face/html/pdf/openface-17.pdf","2007-02-21","114K","openface-17.pdf","","","2 Cor. 3;18 No. 17 Open Face OCTOBER 2000 SOME FACTS CONCERNING THE OMEGA HERESY be the Omega heresy. 1. When speaking of the Alpha crisis and the coming Omega, Ellen White several times stated that our safety would lie in refusing to be drawn away from the faith which God gave to the pioneers (statements follow in this article). Yet some say that the pioneers (including James White) were teaching the Omega heresy. 2. Ellen White said that the Omega would follow shortly after the Alpha. This statement would not make any sense if the Omega was the teaching of the pioneers for it would mean that the Omega would have been here before the Alpha! 3. Ellen White referred to the Alpha and Omega heresies as falsehoods of the most deadly kind. If the teaching of the pioneers was the Omega, then it means that for the first fifty years of its existence the SDA church to which Ellen White belonged, was teaching the most dangerous false doctrine, y e t was not rebuked by Ellen White. The following article consists of some questions concerning this omega apostasy, with answering quotes from Ellen White and a couple of other sources which make it very clear that there is only one doctrine embraced by the SDA church today, which fulfills the specifications of the Omega heresy, and that this doctrine is the doctrine of the Trinity. All of the Ellen White quotes were taken from statements written by her either during, or shortly following the Kellogg crisis which she referred to as the Alpha. We challenge all those who disagree with this article to find any other doctrine or issue which answers the questions proposed here. We urge our detractors to not merely find fault with this article, but to suggest a better alternative - to suggest something which more fittingly fits t h e specifications given by the prophet. 1. WHEN WOULD THE OMEGA HERESY BE INTRODUCED INTO THE SDA CHURCH? Answer: In a little while, shortly after the time of the Kellogg apostasy (shortly after 1904). Let us note that the Trinity was introduced into the Chu "); array_files[244]=new Array(0,4,"http://www.restorationministry.com/Open_Face/html/pdf/openface-16.pdf","2007-02-21","190K","openface-16.pdf","","","2 Cor. 3;18 No. 16 JULY 2000 Understanding the Issues Definitions of various concepts of the Trinity/godhead debate HOW MANY GODS? There is Only one God. This is an incontrovertible biblical truth. Both the Old and the New Testaments declare this fact in unmistakable language (Deut. 6:4; Mark 12:29; 1 Cor. 8:6). Every single person who holds the Bible as supreme authority acknowledges this truth. The biblical insistence on monotheism requires that God be defined as a unit. As a He. There is only one of Him. HOW DOES ONE GOD BECOME THREE PERSONS? The Bible also clearly teaches the divine nature of Jesus and the Holy Spirit as well as the Father (John 1:1; 1 Cor.3:16). how can this be reconciled with the fact that there is only ONE God? At the council of Nicea in 325 AD they wrangled over this question and there, laid the groundwork for the doctrine of the trinity by declaring that Jesus was God. At a later council in Constantinople in 381 AD, they decided that the holy spirit was also God, and formulated the doctrine of the Trinity which has remained with us (with slight modifications) ever since. THE HISTORICAL (CATHOLIC) CONCEPT OF THE TRINITY David Clayton being does not mean that He is one Person, but rather that He is a single substance called God, and that this substance expresses Himself (itself?) in three ways, as three manifestations or persons, the Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Therefore Jesus and the Holy Spirit are said to be consubstantial (of the same substance) with the Father. The observant person will notice that this is a radical departure from the Scriptural concept of God who is always regarded in the Bible as a personal, individual Being whom we may regard as Father and with whom we may enjoy personal fellowship. The Nicean concept of God turns Him into a faceless impersonal substance. It should be evident that if God is the Being with three modes, the Father, Son and Holy Spirit, then God, the Being or substance must be greater than either Father, Son or holy Spirit, since He is the whole of "); array_files[245]=new Array(0,4,"http://www.restorationministry.com/Open_Face/html/pdf/openface-15.pdf","2007-02-21","280K","openface-15.pdf","","","2 Cor. 3;18 No. 15 MAY 2000 D I D GOD HAVE A SON TO GIVE? David Clayton Let me illustrate my point. If John 3:16 had read, God so loved the world that He gave an angel whom He created.... or, God so loved the world that He gave His friend.... Would the action really have impressed us with the fact that Gods love for us is very great? Men would have understood if God had claimed to have given an angel. We would have comprehended it if God had claimed to have given His friend. But would this really have revealed Gods love for man? The plain fact is, Gods consistent testimony is that He gave His SON. In the very words of that Son, His only begotten Son. How great is Gods love for us? The answer to that question pivots around the issue of who Jesus really was. Only as we can discern the true identity of Christ can we appreciate the enormity of the sacrifice which God made for man, and therefore the magnitude of His love for us. A relevant question is, why does the Bible call Jesus the Son of God. Is this term one that was coined by the gospel writers, was it a figurative term, was it a title like the term prophet (as some have suggested)? The plain fact of the matter is that God Himself in the presence of a multitude of people proclaimed, This is my beloved Son (Matt. 3:17). Again, Jesus Himself over and over declared that He was the SON of God, and more than that, the only begotten Son of God. (John 3:16) The testimony of these two Beings none dare contradict, or ascribe to tradition or custom or misunderstanding. Surely, God knew the identity of Jesus and Jesus Himself must have known His own identity. Let us then make note of the fact that in seeking to convey to human minds the relationship between God and Jesus, both Jesus and God have used the word Son and Father. Any human being therefore is guilty of the greatest presumption if he concludes that Jesus is anyone other than the Son of God. Did God merely use human terminology when He referred to Jesus as His beloved Son, so that we could understand how He fee "); array_files[246]=new Array(0,4,"http://www.restorationministry.com/Open_Face/html/pdf/openface-14.pdf","2007-02-21","115K","openface-14.pdf","","","2 Cor. 3;18 No. 14 APRIL 2000 JUDGEMENT WITHOUT A TRIAL? David Clayton ward the righteous with eternal life. They object, however, to the idea that God will conduct a public investigation before passing His sentences. The early advent believers insisted that the concept of the investigative judgement is clearly taught by the Bible in spite of the numerous objections to it. Were they right? Let us concede from the beginning that they chose a term to describe this doctrine which is not found in the Bible. The Bible nowhere uses the term Investigative Judgement and it is usually best if we describe our beliefs using the terminology of the Bible. The real question is, however, is the concept taught in the Bible? Let us be quite sure what we are talking about by first of all carefully defining our terms. WHAT IS THE INVESTIGATIVE JUDGEMENT? (a) The word Judgement can refer to any one of three phases of judgement, (1) examination or investigation of evidence. (2) Sentencing or the passing of a verdict. (3) The execution of the sentence. In the case of the term Investigative Judgement the word judgement refers to the first aspect of judgement, which is the investigation of evidence. Let us note in passing that there has never in the history of mankind been a fair judgement which did not involve, first of all an examination of all the known facts which were relevant to the case in question. (b) The word investigation means an examination. In the context of the term Investigative Judgement it means a review of every single factor in the life of an individual which may have some value in revealing whether or not a person is a genuine Christian. (c) The doctrine of the Investigative Judgement also teaches that this investigation will take place for all who profess, or have ever professed to be followers of Christ, before Jesus comes again to reward the faithful and that it will involve the cases of the dead as well as the living. Generally speaking, many of those who are critical of the Investigative Judgement have failed "); array_files[247]=new Array(0,4,"http://www.restorationministry.com/Open_Face/html/pdf/openface-13.pdf","2007-02-21","109K"," Open Face Feb 2000","","","2 Cor. 3;18 No. 13 With Open Face David Clayton FEBRUARY 2000 WAS DA ATONEMENT? WHEN WAS THE DAY OF ATONEMENT? THE FEASTS OF ISRAEL Nisan 1 Iyar 2 Sivan 3 Tammuz 4 Ab 5 Elul 6 Tishri 7 Heshvan 8 Chislev 9 Tebath 10 Shebat 11 Adar 12 PASSOVER WAVESHEAF PENTECOST clearly were commemorative of some significant event in Israels history. The Passover was observed as a reminder of the time when the angel of death passing through the land of Egypt slew all the firstborn of the Egyptians, but spared every home upon the doorpost and lintel of which the blood of the slain lamb was found. The feast of Tabernacles also was commemorative. As Leviticus 23:42,43 tell us, it was to be observed in memory of the wilderness sojourn of the Israelites, when, for forty years, they dwelt in temporary homes. Careful study will reveal that the feast of Pentecost was also commemorative, being a memorial of the giving of the Ten Commandments, which were spoken from Mount Sinai fifty days after the Passover was instituted. In spite of the fact that these feasts were commemorative, it is clear that they were also intended to be prophetic types, pointing forward to some event in Gods plan for redeeming man from the penalty and power of sin. We all know how the Passover was fulfilled. The anti-typical meanings of the other feasts were: 1. The Wavesheaf Offering: This presentation to God of the firstfruits of the harvest took place two days after the Passover. Its meaning is too obvious to be misunderstood. This represented the presentation of Christ to His Father on the day of His resurrection as the firstfruits of those who will finally be harvested from this earth. 2. Pentecost: The coming of the holy s p i r i t . Without this gift, Calvary TRUMPETS ATONEMENT TABERNACLES T he Bible clearly reveals that God has a timetable on which He operates. This timetable is clearly and unquestionably outlined in the calendar of the Hebrew economy. This calendar reveals very clearly that God has several outstanding points or events in His plan for rede "); array_files[248]=new Array(0,4,"http://www.restorationministry.com/Open_Face/html/pdf/openface-12.pdf","2007-02-21","180K"," Openface 12.pm6","","","2 Cor. 3;18 No. 12 W ith Open Face ROOTS OF THE TRINITY by David Clayton DECEMBER 1999 he doctrine of the Trinity has b e e n , from the moment it was first introduced into the Christian faith, a subject of heated debate and fierce controversy. Today many centuries later the situation is no different. Still there is argument and d i v i s i o n concerning this doctrine which its advocates have declared to be a great mystery. Sometime, during the first four hundred years after the death of Christ, this doctrine crept into the teachings of popular Christianity. While it was officially embraced and defined at the Council of Nicea (AD 325), there seems to be evidence to suggest that even before this time it had already insinuated itself into the thinking of some Christians. However, what is absolutely certain is that this doctrine was not introduced into the Christian Church until more than a century after the death of the last of the apostles. The Encarta Encyclopedia describes its introduction into Christianity in the following way: Trinity (theology), in Christian theology, doctrine that God exists as three p e r s o n s -- F a t h e r , Son, and Holy Spirit--who are united in one substance or being. The doctrine is not taught explicitly in the New Testament, where the word God almost invariably refers to the Father.... The term trinitas was first used in the 2nd century, by the Latin theologian Tertullian, but the concept was developed in the course of the debates on the nature of Christ. In the 4th century, the doctrine was finally formulated... The Encyclopedia Britannica states that The doctrine developed gradu1 T stated in Scripture . . . . But the Protestant Churches have themselves accepted such dogmas as the Trinity for which there is no such precise authority in the Gospels. (Life Magazine, Oct. 30, 1950) Yet, as we examine the doctrine of a three-in-one God more carefully, an even more startling fact comes to light. The doctrine of a trinitarian god existed for many centuries before it was embraced by "); array_files[249]=new Array(0,4,"http://www.restorationministry.com/Open_Face/html/pdf/openface-11.pdf","2007-02-21","513K"," Openface 11.pm6","","","2 Cor. 3;18 No. 11 W ith Open Face Who Is The Holy Spirit? by David Clayton How can God be here with me, while He is at the same time in heaven? How can He be said to, fill heaven and earth? (Jer. 23:24). Does it mean that His head is in heaven while His feet are on earth? Obviously not. What we need to understand is that the form of the Person which sits on the throne in heaven is not all there is of God. This is just the form in which God reveals Himself to angels and to men. The wise man Solomon stated: SEPTEMBER 1999 The path of truth and error lies close together, but they do not overlap. In this article it may seem that I have stepped close to the line, but I have been careful to go no further than the Bible and the Te s t i m o n i e s have gone. Please read carefully and you will see that God has truly given us a privilege which is unspeakably great. WHO IS THE HOLY SPIRIT? B u t will God indeed dwell on the e a r t h ? behold, the heaven and heaven of heavens cannot contain thee; how much less this house that I have builded? (1 Ki 8:27) If the heaven and the heaven of heavens cannot contain God, then evidently, the part of God which is contained in heaven is not all there is of God. God Himself is actually the great conscious, living, presence which fills the entire universe. I realize that in these days of spiritualism and new age concepts of God, I need to be very careful about how I describe God. However, I believe that I am carefully steering within the boundaries of t h e things which are revealed. (Deut.29:29) For in him we live, and move, and have our being; as certain also of your own poets have said, For we are also his offspring. (Acts 17:28) One God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all. (Eph. 4:6) A friend of mine advised me, be careful how you phrase this when you put it in print. Folk may accuse you of teaching pantheism. This is a caution which I am anxious to heed. However, I believe that while the difference between panthe- I should like to answer this q "); array_files[250]=new Array(0,4,"http://www.restorationministry.com/Open_Face/html/pdf/openface-10.pdf","2007-02-21","185K"," Openface 10.pm6","","","2 Cor. 3;18 No. 10 W ith Open Face ity worship and belief in the natural immortality of the soul. This careless approach to the study of Gods word has also resulted in the popular error that Jesus ascended to the Most Holy place of the heavenly Sanctuary after His resurrection. T h e pre-conceived reasoning goes something like this: The sanctuary in the Old Testament had two apartments. God dwelt in the Most Holy place, therefore in the heavenly sanctuary, God also dwells in the Most Holy place. Since Jesus went directly to the Fathers right hand, then He must have gone directly into the Most Holy place. This reasoning is superficial and overlooks two factors which have a bearing upon the issue. 1. Is the Father always­was the Father always in the Most Holy place of the sanctuary? Is that the the lesson which He intended to convey by the type? 2. What does the term, on the right hand of God signify? Is it a symbolic phrase, or is it to be taken literally? These were questions which were considered by the early Adventists. They made it the subject of careful and thorough study. The evidence of history is that these pioneers of the Advent faith were deep thinkers who made prayer and Bible study a major part of their daily lives. Anyone who reads their writings can readily tell that they were of a different breed than todays crop of theologians. It was this careful and prayerful attitude to study which led them to discover the truth that God is not always in the Most Holy place of the heavenly sanctuary. That the Bible does not teach this. They saw clearly that the Scriptures teach that heaven is a literal, real place, where there is a real sanctuary with real apartments where Jesus literally ministers on our behalf. As they carefully studied the Scriptures they saw that Jesus did indeed ascend to the presence of the Father in AD 31, but they also saw very clearly what the rest of the Christian world missed; That in AD 31, both the Father and the Son had not yet en- JUNE 1999 Did Jesus Enter The Most Holy Place In "); array_files[251]=new Array(0,4,"http://www.restorationministry.com/Open_Face/html/pdf/openface-09.pdf","2007-02-21","111K"," Openface 9.pm6","","","2 Cor. 3;18 No. 9 W ith Open Face the scripture. This teaching is that of the Pre-Advent Investigative Judgement of the Righteous. Simply stated, what this doctrine says is that before Jesus returns to this earth to finally deliver His people, there will be, in heaven, an investigation of the life record of every single person who ever claimed to be a Christian, in order to determine, or in order to reveal, whether the person was truly a Christian, or not. This investigation will be a public investigation in the sense that all of the heavenly hosts will be participants. This judgement includes and begins with Christians who are already dead (from the time of Adam) and climaxes with the judgement of living Christians in the final moments of time. When the judgement is over, then Jesus will return to claim t h o s e who have been revealed in the judgement to be His genuine followers. The question is, does the Bible teach such a doctrine, or was this doctrine fabricated by the Adventist pioneers? We believe and will demonstrate that this is a clear teaching of the Bible in both the Old and the New Testament, and that the doctrine of the investigative Judgement does not depend on the writings of Ellen White, The SDA pioneers, of even on Daniel 8:14 for its foundation. A SPECIFIC TIME APPOINTED MARCH 1999 The Judgement of Christians by David Clayton A half truth is often one of the most effective untruths. Fixing itself upon some element of fact, it is able to raise itself up on a foundation which, to a superficial examination appears to be sound, and thus, it has the potential to deceive a great many people. One illustration of the point which I am making is where the Bible states as a fact that Christians are not under the law. (Rom. 6:14). This fact is used as a foundation for the false teaching that the law has been abolished. Another example is where people make the false statement: Works have nothing to do with salvation. Such a false statement they base upon the truth that we are saved by grace and not by wor "); array_files[252]=new Array(0,4,"http://www.restorationministry.com/Open_Face/html/pdf/openface-08.pdf","2007-02-21","116K"," Openface 8.pm6","","","2 Cor. 3;18 No. 8 W ith Open Face JANUARY 1999 Is There A Literal Sanctuary In Heaven? by David Clayton D uring the 1960s when Robert Brinsmead emphasized the fact that the cleansing of the heavenly sanctuary involved also a cleansing of Gods people here on earth, his agitations got him branded as an offshoot and a heretic by the SDA church. The church, erroneously, wanted only to emphasize what was taking place in heaven, making it irrelevant to us here on earth. Now the opposite thing is being done. All the emphasis is being placed on what is being done in us here one earth, making the work in heaven irrelevant. In fact, many are denying entirely that any literal work is taking place in heaven. In reality, this means that we have no concept of heavens activities and therefore have nothing on which to fasten our faith. All we have is vague words about sanctification and perfection, but no real concept of what is happening or of how it happens. Thus, we cannot exercise faith in Gods work or cooperate in its accomplishment. The recognition of a literal Sanctuary building in heaven leads us to the logical conclusion that the cleansing of the Sanctuary must involve some kind of removal of impurity, or sin from the building itself. This understanding, of course, led the Adventist pioneers to discover the truth of the investigative judgment and its place in Gods plan for His last day people. Rejection of the literal Sanctuary, automatically means there can be no such thing as an investigative judgment. Both these truths, then, the Literal heavenly Sanctuary, and the Investigative Judgment go hand in hand (we might also add in passing that critical truths such as the supremacy of God the Father, the literal Sonship of Jesus Christ, the real and literal mediatorial work of Jesus Christ as our High Priest are also inextricably tied to the truth of a literal heavenly Sanctuary). DOES THE BIBLE REVEAL A LITERAL SANCTUARY BUILDING IN HEAVEN? 1. The book of Revelation in several places speaks of a temple in heaven. (Rev.11 "); array_files[253]=new Array(0,4,"http://www.restorationministry.com/Open_Face/html/pdf/openface-07.pdf","2007-02-21","97K"," Untitled-2","","","2 Cor. 3;18 No. 7 With Open Face I S OUR FOUNDATION SECURE? NOVEMBER 1998 In recent times there has been some degree of agitation among the brethren, particularly those in Manchester concerning the historic beliefs of the sanctuary doctrine as taught by the pioneers of the Advent movement. Specifically, some of the brethren have come to the conclusion that: 1. There is no literal sanctuary (building) in heaven. 2. The day of atonement began in A.D. 31. 3. Jesus entered the Most Holy Place in heaven in A.D. 31. 4 There is no investigative judgment of the righteous. Those who belong to Christ will never be judged. 5. Daniel 7: 9,10 refers exclusively to the judgment of the little horn, and has nothing to do with the judgment of the saints. 6. There is no connection between Daniel 8:14 and Leviticus 16. Daniel 8:14 has nothing to do with the judgment and the day of atonement. The logical conclusion from all of this is that Ellen White and the pioneers were confused and were totally wrong about the basic foundation upon which they built the movement. It also means that the Advent movement could not have been led and directed of God from the beginning, but would have to be, in fact, simply a product of deluded minds, or a fabrication of deliberate lies. These are such serious charges that it should be evident that one cannot embrace such beliefs and yet justifiably claim to believe in the Advent movement, and also in the prophetic gift of Ellen White. Yet, surprisingly, those who are making these claims are still claiming to believe that Ellen White was Gods messenger, and that the Advent movement was a divinely ordained movement. We believe this position to be highly inconsistent and one which is unsustainable. Because these ideas have been causing such an agitation and because they have raised such serious questions about the integrity of the Advent movement, we have decided in this issue to simply reprint some of the more striking statements from the pen of Ellen White concerning these questions and also to look "); array_files[254]=new Array(0,4,"http://www.restorationministry.com/Open_Face/html/pdf/openface-06.pdf","2007-02-21","203K"," Open Face 6.p65","","","2 Cor. 3;18 No. 6 W ith Open Face September 1998 Pope launches crusade to save Sunday THE Pope will issue a strongly worded appeal to Roman Catholics this week to r e s t o r e the sacred nature of Sunday. Prompted by concern that the sabbath has been undermined by business and falling attendances at mass in the West, he will urge Catholics to defend it as a day of worship and recreation for families. Final preparations are being made at the Vatican to distribute an apostolic letter ­ or exhortation ­ on the subject from John Paul II. The document, Dies Domini (The Day of the Lord), is expected to be a d d r e s s e d to all faithful Catholics rather than only to bishops and priests. Timed to coincide with the start of the summer holidays, when many people reevaluate their lives away from the pressures of work, the exhortation is likely to form the subject of sermons over the next few weeks. It is also expected to win support from other churches ­ particularly from evangelical Christians ­ who share the Popes anxiety about the erosion of the Sabbath. In Britain, Sunday opening at a growing number of shops has forced many people to work, making a traditional family day impossible. While the trend is less marked in other large European countries, including France, Germany and Italy, church-going has nevertheless been in decline. Vatican sources say the Pope has resolved to emphasise the physical and practical benefits of a day of rest. One said he was keenly aware that a day off had become a rare luxury in some developing countries. The exhortation is understood to be divided into three sections, considering the sabbath from the biblical point of view, assessing the extent of its erosion and setting out a way forward. It will reflect an appeal made at the height of a debate about Sunday opening in Rome four years ago, when the Pope warned Italians to remember the mean- by Christopher Morgan Rome ing of the day. In vienna last month, he told Catholics: Do whatever you can to preserve Sunday. Make it clear that thi "); array_files[255]=new Array(0,4,"http://www.restorationministry.com/Open_Face/html/pdf/openface-05.pdf","2007-02-21","161K"," Open Face 5.p65","","","2 Cor. 3;18 No. 5 W ith Open Face David D. Clayton July 1998 HISTORICAL, BIBLICAL OR PAPAL ADVENTISTS? HISTORICAL, PAPAL The term, Historic Seventh-day Adventist became popular a few years ago with the sudden explosion of home churches and independent ministries, all unhappy with the falling standards, the changing doctrines and the general worldly and ecumenical trends in the mother Seventh-day Adventist Church. Terry Ross, the founder of Servants of Our Saviour Ministry, claims that he is the person who first coined the term. Be that as it may, it quickly became a phrase which the independent ministries favored, and many home churches began to use the term historic Adventists to identify themselves. It was a term which seemed to say, we stand by the old landmarks on which the SDA Church was founded. We belong to the original SDA church and not the present day imposter! It made a good springboard for launching the claim that the present day SDA denomination is in apostasy, has departed from the teachings of the earlier Adventists, and therefore is not the true Seventh-day Adventist Church, even though it bears the same name. Of course, the logical thing to conclude is that the Historic Seventh-day Adventists are really the true Seventh-day Adventists. All seemed to be well until the publication of the Issues book by the SDA church revealed a glaring inconsistency on the part of the Independent Ministries. On page 39 of the book, in the section entitled, Historic Adventism ­ Ancient Landmarks and The Present Truth the publishers point out that the early Adventists were non trinitarian and quote from the statement of beliefs published by the Adventists in 1872 to support their claim. They then go on to say: Would one be willing to accept all the content from that earlier era? Are the modern defenders of so-called historic Adventism really prepared to return to a non-Trinitarian position? The silence from the Historic Independent Ministries on this point was deafening. The Issues book was perfectly right. Are you "); array_files[256]=new Array(0,4,"http://www.restorationministry.com/Open_Face/html/pdf/openface-04.pdf","2007-02-21","130K"," Open Face 4.p65","","","2 Cor. 3;18 No.4 W ith Open Face Colin A. Gyles APRIL 1998 TRINITY DOCTRINE UNDERMINES THE GOSPEL The Trinity is held by popular professed Christianity to be the central doctrine of the Christian faith. This doctrine, though nominally embraced by most professed Christians, is widely considered to be a mystery. So mysterious is this doctrine that many of its adherents do not even venture to seek an understandable definition of the doctrine, much more to investigate or analyze its coherency or any implications that it might create for the overall perspective that is developed. Websters Dictionary defines the Trinity as follows: (a) A threefold consubstantial personality existing in one divine being or substance. (b) The union of one God; of Father, Son and Holy Spirit as three infinite persons. A similar definition of the Trinity is given in the Practical Catholic Dictionary by Jessie Corrigan Pegis as follows: One and the same God in three divine persons, the Father, the Son and the Holy Ghost. There are three distinct persons who are one God. In accordance with the historical development of the Trinity doctrine and as indicated in the above definitions, the Trinity declares that there are three distinct persons who are of the same substance and constitute one being. This composite being is considered to be the God of the Christian faith. Pictorially, the Trinity has been represented as a composite head with three (3) faces or as three different heads that are joined in a single body. Another popular representation is an equilateral triangle wherein each of the three (3) equal sides represents a member of the Trinity. The various representations attempt to depict an underlying concept of unity of substance, thus making the three personalities a single being rather than separate beings. This concept of unity of substance constitutes the primary basis on which the doctrine was formulated. The formulation of the Trinity doctrine arose out of a controversy early in the fourth (4) century AD between one Arius, a Pres "); array_files[257]=new Array(0,4,"http://www.restorationministry.com/Open_Face/html/pdf/openface-03.pdf","2007-02-21","113K"," Openface 3.pm6","","","2 Cor. 3;18 No. 3 W ith Open Face OCTOBER 1997 SHOULD SEVENTH-DAY ADVENTISTS BE WORRIED? The letter which appears in the next column was published in the Observer, and is worthy of comment on account of the fact that it makes several remarkable statements. This letter was written by an Anglican priest, Ernle Gordon and was written as a part of an exchange with a Seventh-day Adventist who took exception to the fact that in an earlier article, Mr. Gordon had seemed to indicate that Seventh-day Adventists were to be regarded as a cult. It is very interesting to note the points which, according to this priest, disqualify the SDA Church from being classified as a cult. As long as Adventist believe in the trinity, the doctrine of the resurrection, the doctrine of the Holy Spirit, the primacy of the apostolic faith/The Bible and accept the doctrines clarified by the historic ecumenical councils, they cannot be described as a cult. There are five beliefs outlined here by Mr. Gordon which he (or those who formulate these definitions) regards as being essential. They constitute an amazing group of Doctrines by virtue of the extremely flimsy foundation upon which the majority of them are based. There are two points which are vital to the acceptance of the whole group because they lay the foundation upon which faith in the others may rest. These are the two last mentioned. Non-cults must accept ...the primacy of the apostolic faith/the Bible and accept the doctrines clarified by the historic ecumenical councils ... Here are strange terms indeed! Particularly to an Adventist who has some knowledge of the great apostasy and its developments. What is the meaning of the term, the primacy of the apostolic faith/the Bible? The Bible we can understand, but what is this other phrase which is so casually placed in such close fellowship with the Bible and is even given first place over it?(!!) ...the primacy of the apostolic faith ...The astonishing truth is that this is simply a more deceptive way of referring to the traditions whi "); array_files[258]=new Array(0,4,"http://www.restorationministry.com/Open_Face/html/pdf/openface-02.pdf","2007-02-21","42K"," Openface 2.pm6","","","2 Cor. 3;18 No. 2 W ith Open Face ... LETS FACE FACTS JUNE 1997 David Clayton he agitation continues concerning the Trinity doctrine. Almost every publication which is sent out these days, whether from the official SDA Church sources, or, from the Independent Ministries has some article dealing with the subject, or refers to the agitation in one way or another. Some of the articles put out by these various publications are a real tragedy. Maybe that is the best way to describe them. Taken together, they form a combination of confused, illogical thoughts which are outstanding by their misrepresentation and distortion of facts on the one hand, and their deliberate ignoring of facts on the other. It is, perhaps, significant that all these various ideas, often in serious conflict with each other, find harmony in their common support of the doctrine of the Trinity. The official SDA Church has immortalized its position by placing it in print in no less a publication than the Adventist Review. In the Week of Prayer readings for October, 1996, the following statement appears: . . . a plan of salvation was encompassed in the covenant made by the Three Persons of the Godhead, who possessed the attributes of Deity equally. In order to eradicate sin and rebellion from the universe and to restore harmony and peace, one of the divine Beings accepted, and entered into, the role of the Father, another the role of the Son. The remaining divine Being, the Holy Spirit, was also to participate in effecting the plan of salvation. All of this took place before sin and rebellion transpired in heaven. By accepting the roles that the plan entailed, the divine Beings lost none of the powers of Deity. With regard to their eternal existence and other attributes, they were one and equal. But with regard to the plan of salvation, there was, in a sense, a submission on the part of the Son to the Father . . . Adventist Review -Oct. 31, 1996 - p.12 T insist on identifying themselves with. The truth is that the Trinitarian beliefs of the presen "); array_files[259]=new Array(0,4,"http://www.restorationministry.com/Open_Face/html/pdf/openface-01.pdf","2007-02-21","98K"," Openface 1.pm6","","","2 Cor. 3;18 No. 1 W ith Open Face ... That He came out of God. NOVEMBER 1996 Was It Really Gods Son Who Died On Calvary? A s a Christian you may think that the title of this article asks a foolish question, or at any rate, one which is easy to answer. Every C h r i s t i a n , of course, would answer a hearty, yes, to such a question. Perhaps this may be so. T h e vast majority of Christians (perhaps every single one in the world) w o u l d state positively: Y e s , I do believe that Gods Son really did die on Calvary for me. No doubt then, it will come as something of a shock to you to discover that most Christians, perhaps even you, do not actually believe that statement. Let me demonstrate what I mean: H o w would you respond to the following ideas? 1. Jesus was not really the actual Son of God. He was not really His offspring. 2. Jesus was not actually the begotten Son of God. He was not really born from God. 3. God cannot die. Jesus was God so He could not actually have died on Calvary Perhaps you are beginning to see the point I am making. However, let me make it a little c l e a r e r . Orthodox Christian doctrine, today teaches that although Jesus is called the Son of God, over and over in the Bible, we are not to understand the word Son to mean the same thing as it means elsewhere in the Scriptures. When referring to Jesus, the word has some unique, mystical meaning which is left to the theologians to interpret for us. The same applies to the word, begotten. Five times in the Scriptures, Jesus is called the Only begotten Son of God (John 1:14, 18 ; John 3:16,18; 1 John 4;9). This term, only begotten is very simple and easy to understand. Any child could readily tell you its meaning. In plain English, it means that He was the only one BORN FROM . Those who embrace the trinitarian teaching that God is made up of three persons who are coequal and co-eternal, one in three and three in one, have problems with the Scriptures which refer to Jesus as the only begotten Son of God. However, there need be no prob "); array_files[260]=new Array(0,1,"http://www.restorationministry.com/Open_Face/html/52-jan07-nav.html","2007-02-21","2K","Contents","",""," Contents Open Face No. 52 January 2006 Home Newsletter Menu PDF Version In this issue: The Promise vs The Law The Place of the Word News on The Home Front Sinners on Probation Understanding Life in Christ Latest Materials Some Fundamental Principles of Righteousness Letters Publisher Information "); array_files[261]=new Array(0,1,"http://www.restorationministry.com/Open_Face/html/52-jan07-frameset.html","2007-02-21","0K","Openface 52","",""," Openface 52 frameset rows=* cols=210,* framespacing=5 frameborder=yes border=5 bordercolor=#993300 frame src=52-jan07-nav.html name=navFrame scrolling=auto noresize id=navFrame frame src=52-jan07-content.html name=Contentframe scrolling=yes id=Contentframe noframes "); array_files[262]=new Array(0,1,"http://www.restorationministry.com/Open_Face/html/52-jan07-content.html","2007-02-21","67K","Open Face 8","",""," Open Face 8 Open Face No 52 - January 2006 The Promise vs The Law David Clayton The more we study the subject of righteousness in Christ, the more we realize how important it is that we correctly understand the purpose of God in giving the law, and the place which it has in the experience of the Christian. Misunderstanding of this has certainly led many to an experience in which Christ has been shut away from them and Christianity has become a hard religion of painful drudgery. As we examine this subject once again, our focus will be on Galatians Chapter three where the apostle Paul gives us a different perspective on salvation in Christ. But let us begin with Genesis 17: 7 where God says, And I will establish my covenant between me and thee and thy seed after thee in their generations for an everlasting covenant, to be a God unto thee, and to thy seed after thee. (Gen 17:7) God made this promise to Abraham, but to whom did it apply? Did it apply to Abraham alone? No, it applied also to his seed, and the promise was, “I will be a God to you, and your seed after you.” Why did God make this promise to Abraham? From time to time, God renewed this promise, but we can find the real reason why He made it in Genesis 15:5,6. And he brought him forth abroad, and said, Look now toward heaven, and tell the stars, if thou be able to number them: and he said unto him, So shall thy seed be. (6) And he believed in the LORD; and he counted it to him for righteousness. (Gen 15:5-6) What did Abraham do in order to become righteous? He believed God. God said, “I will make your seed like the stars of heaven.” It was not dependent on Abraham producing the seed, or producing the stars of heaven, all he did was believe what God said, and it was counted to him as righteousness. In Genesis 22:18 we find God once again promising to bless the nations in Abrahams Seed: And in thy seed shall all the nations of the earth be blessed; because thou hast obeyed my voice. (Gen 22:18) Did Abraham have to do something in order for this promise to "); array_files[263]=new Array(0,1,"http://www.restorationministry.com/Open_Face/html/51-nov-2006-nav.htm","2007-02-21","1K","Contents","",""," Contents Open Face No. 51 November 2006 In this issue: The Two Covenants Some thoughts on the Message of Righteousness by Faith Ye Have Done it unto Me An Already Accomplished Reality The Meaning of the Cross Publisher Information PDF version Newsletters Menu "); array_files[264]=new Array(0,1,"http://www.restorationministry.com/Open_Face/html/51-nov-2006-frameset.html","2007-02-21","0K","Openface 51","",""," Openface 51 frameset rows=* cols=210,* framespacing=5 frameborder=yes border=5 bordercolor=#993300 frame src=51-nov-2006-nav.htm name=navFrame scrolling=auto noresize id=navFrame frame src=51-nov-2006-content.htm name=Contentframe id=Contentframe noframes "); array_files[265]=new Array(0,1,"http://www.restorationministry.com/Open_Face/html/50-sept-2006-nav.htm","2007-02-21","1K","Contents","",""," Contents Open Face No. 50 September 2006 In this issue: Freedom in Europe Talks on Righteousness by Faith Light in Jamaican Hills Publisher Information PDF version Newsletters Menu "); array_files[266]=new Array(0,1,"http://www.restorationministry.com/Open_Face/html/50-sept-2006-frameset.html","2007-02-21","0K","Openface 50","",""," Openface 50 frameset rows=* cols=210,* framespacing=5 frameborder=yes border=5 bordercolor=#993300 frame src=50-sept-2006-nav.htm name=navFrame scrolling=auto noresize id=navFrame frame src=50-sept-2006-content.htm name=Contentframe id=Contentframe noframes "); array_files[267]=new Array(0,1,"http://www.restorationministry.com/Open_Face/html/49-july-2006-nav.htm","2007-02-21","1K","Contents","",""," Contents Open Face No. 49 July 2006 In this issue: Why the Sinner had to Die? Why Jesus Had To Die? The Four Deaths Publisher Information PDF version Newsletters Menu "); array_files[268]=new Array(0,1,"http://www.restorationministry.com/Open_Face/html/49-july-2006-frameset.html","2007-02-21","0K","Openface 49","",""," Openface 49 frameset rows=* cols=210,* framespacing=5 frameborder=yes border=5 bordercolor=#993300 frame src=49-july-2006-nav.htm name=navFrame scrolling=auto noresize id=navFrame frame src=49-july-2006-content.htm name=Contentframe id=Contentframe noframes "); array_files[269]=new Array(0,1,"http://www.restorationministry.com/Open_Face/html/48-may-2006-nav.htm","2007-02-21","2K","Contents","",""," Contents Open Face No. 48 May 2006 In this issue: Born of the Spirit Questions ??? Free Tape Offer Campmeeting report The Law of Heredity Will Babies be Lost or saved? Reflections on Florida 2006 Florida Sermons Publisher Information PDF version Newsletters Menu "); array_files[270]=new Array(0,1,"http://www.restorationministry.com/Open_Face/html/48-may-2006-frameset.html","2007-02-21","0K","Openface 48","",""," Openface 48 frameset rows=* cols=210,* framespacing=5 frameborder=yes border=5 bordercolor=#993300 frame src=48-may-2006-nav.htm name=navFrame scrolling=auto noresize id=navFrame frame src=48-may-2006-content.htm name=Contentframe id=Contentframe noframes "); array_files[271]=new Array(0,1,"http://www.restorationministry.com/Open_Face/html/47-march-2006-nav.htm","2007-02-21","2K","Contents","",""," Contents Open Face No. 47 March 2006 In this issue: Righteousness by Faith The Rest which Remains Woven in Heavens Loom Are you an Evolutionist? An Encouraging Letter Quotes to Ponder A New Home Soon Campmeeting Notice Publisher Information PDF version Newsletters Menu "); array_files[272]=new Array(0,1,"http://www.restorationministry.com/Open_Face/html/47-march-2006-frameset.html","2007-02-21","0K","Openface 47","",""," Openface 47 frameset rows=* cols=210,* framespacing=5 frameborder=yes border=5 bordercolor=#993300 frame src=47-march-2006-nav.htm name=navFrame scrolling=auto noresize id=navFrame frame src=47-march-2006-content.htm name=Contentframe id=Contentframe noframes "); array_files[273]=new Array(0,1,"http://www.restorationministry.com/Open_Face/html/46-jan-2006-nav.htm","2007-02-21","1K","Contents","",""," Contents Open Face No. 46 January 2006 In this issue: Without the Law The soul that Sinneth The Work of a lifetime Free Tape Offer Answers and Clarifications Publisher Information PDF version Newsletters Menu "); array_files[274]=new Array(0,1,"http://www.restorationministry.com/Open_Face/html/46-jan-2006-frameset.html","2007-02-21","0K","Openface 46","",""," Openface 46 frameset rows=* cols=210,* framespacing=5 frameborder=yes border=5 bordercolor=#993300 frame src=46-jan-2006-nav.htm name=navFrame scrolling=auto noresize id=navFrame frame src=46-jan-2006-content.htm name=Contentframe id=Contentframe noframes "); array_files[275]=new Array(0,1,"http://www.restorationministry.com/Open_Face/html/45-nov-2005-frameset.html","2007-02-21","0K","Openface 45","",""," Openface 45 frameset rows=* cols=210,* framespacing=5 frameborder=yes border=5 bordercolor=#993300 frame src=45-nov-2005-nav.htm name=navFrame scrolling=auto noresize id=navFrame frame src=45-nov-2005-content.htm name=Contentframe id=Contentframe noframes "); array_files[276]=new Array(0,1,"http://www.restorationministry.com/Open_Face/html/43-july-2005-nav.htm","2007-02-21","1K","Contents","",""," Contents Open Face No. 43 July 2005 In this issue: Delivered from the law The Age of the Earth The Importance of Faith Correspondence on Christ Dying the second Death! If thou wouldest Believe General conference Report Publisher Information PDF version Newsletters Menu "); array_files[277]=new Array(0,1,"http://www.restorationministry.com/Open_Face/html/43-july-2005-frameset.html","2007-02-21","0K","Openface 43","",""," Openface 43 frameset rows=* cols=210,* framespacing=5 frameborder=yes border=5 bordercolor=#993300 frame src=43-july-2005-nav.htm name=navFrame scrolling=auto noresize id=navFrame frame src=43-july-2005-content.htm name=Contentframe id=Contentframe noframes "); array_files[278]=new Array(0,1,"http://www.restorationministry.com/Open_Face/html/43-july-2005-content.htm","2007-02-21","81K","Open Face 43","",""," Open Face 43 Open Face No 43- July 2005 Delivered From The Law David Clayton There are certain verses in the Bible, especially in the New Testament which most Seventh-day Adventists find difficult to explain. My father who used to be a Seventh-day Adventist minister told me that he had once overheard one of his fellow ministers say that sometimes when he thought of some of the things which Paul wrote, he wished that he was able to give him a beating. You see, Paul says some things that seem to be very much against our concept of the law, and as an Adventist minister he sometimes felt very frustrated in dealing with some of these statements. Here are examples of some of these statements: For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace.(Rom 6:14) But now we are delivered from the law, that being dead wherein we were held; that we should serve in newness of spirit, and not in the oldness of the letter.(Rom 7:6) But if ye be led of the Spirit, ye are not under the law.(Gal 5:18) Most often when Seventh-day Adventists are called upon to explain these verses they try to explain them by using a popular illustration. The explanation has been that being, “under the law”simply means to be under the condemnation of the law and the illustration used is, if a man goes through a red-light, he comes under the condemnation of the law because the law finds him guilty. If he does not go through the red-light, he is not under the law but the moment he goes through the red-light, he immediately comes under the law. A difficult passage But this is not at all what it really means to be under the law. The idea of being under the law implies far more. Let us take a close look at 2 Corinthians 3:7-13: “But if the ministration of death, written and engraven in stones, was glorious, so that the children of Israel could not stedfastly behold the face of Moses for the glory of his countenance; which glory was to be done away: (8) How shall not the ministration of the spirit be rather glorious? (9) F "); array_files[279]=new Array(0,1,"http://www.restorationministry.com/Open_Face/html/42-march-2005-nav.htm","2007-02-21","1K","Contents","",""," Contents Open Face No. 42 March 2005 In this issue: Did Jesus Die the Second Death? What is Truth? Clarkes Commentary on 1 John 5:7 Romanian Report Publisher Information PDF version Newsletters Menu "); array_files[280]=new Array(0,1,"http://www.restorationministry.com/Open_Face/html/42-march-2005-frameset.html","2007-02-21","0K","Openface 42","",""," Openface 42 frameset rows=* cols=210,* framespacing=5 frameborder=yes border=5 bordercolor=#993300 frame src=42-march-2005-nav.htm name=navFrame scrolling=auto noresize id=navFrame frame src=42-march-2005-content.htm name=Contentframe id=Contentframe noframes "); array_files[281]=new Array(0,1,"http://www.restorationministry.com/Open_Face/html/41-jan-2005-nav.htm","2007-02-21","2K","Contents","",""," Contents Open Face No. 41 January 2004 In this issue: Standing for the Truth Why I became a Christian Love is the Reason Foundationists or Fundamentalists One God Loving hands New truth or renewed Truth? Arusha Missionary Report (Tanzania) Publisher Information PDF version Newsletters Menu "); array_files[282]=new Array(0,1,"http://www.restorationministry.com/Open_Face/html/41-jan-2005-frameset.html","2007-02-21","0K","Openface 41","",""," Openface 41 frameset rows=* cols=210,* framespacing=5 frameborder=yes border=5 bordercolor=#993300 frame src=41-jan-2005-nav.htm name=navFrame scrolling=auto noresize id=navFrame frame src=41-jan-2005-content.htm name=Contentframe id=Contentframe noframes "); array_files[283]=new Array(0,1,"http://www.restorationministry.com/Open_Face/html/40-nov-2004-nav.htm","2007-02-21","1K","Contents","",""," Contents Open Face No. 40 November 2004 In this issue: Thoughts on Christs Divinity Ivans Visit Be a Berean Zimbabwe Report A prayerful Malfunction Optimism Publisher Information PDF version Newsletters Menu "); array_files[284]=new Array(0,1,"http://www.restorationministry.com/Open_Face/html/40-nov-2004-frameset.html","2007-02-21","0K","Openface 40","",""," Openface 40 frameset rows=* cols=210,* framespacing=5 frameborder=yes border=5 bordercolor=#993300 frame src=40-nov-2004-nav.htm name=navFrame scrolling=auto noresize id=navFrame frame src=40-nov-2004-content.htm name=Contentframe id=Contentframe noframes "); array_files[285]=new Array(0,1,"http://www.restorationministry.com/Open_Face/html/39-sept-2004-nav.htm","2007-02-21","1K","Contents","",""," Contents Open Face No. 39 September 2004 In this issue: The Harmony of Daniel European report Maine Campmeeting Publisher Information PDF version Newsletters Menu "); array_files[286]=new Array(0,1,"http://www.restorationministry.com/Open_Face/html/39-sept-2004-frameset.html","2007-02-21","0K","Openface 39","",""," Openface 39 frameset rows=* cols=210,* framespacing=5 frameborder=yes border=5 bordercolor=#993300 frame src=39-sept-2004-nav.htm name=navFrame scrolling=auto noresize id=navFrame frame src=39-sept-2004-content.htm name=Contentframe id=Contentframe noframes "); array_files[287]=new Array(0,1,"http://www.restorationministry.com/Open_Face/html/39-sept-2004-content.htm","2007-02-21","53K","Open Face 39","",""," Open Face 39 Open Face No 39- September 2004 The Harmony of Daniel David Clayton Ever since the book of Daniel was written it has been the subject of controversy. Some have questioned the authenticity of the book suggesting that it was never actually written by Daniel and was in fact not written until approximately 100 A.D. Even among those who accept that the book was truly written by Daniel and that it was inspired by God, the prophecies themselves have been the subject of heated debates with different groups and individuals placing various interpretations on the symbols and events portrayed in the visions. The Advent movement, of course, had its own contribution to make to the interpretation of the book of Daniel and in fact, Adventism claims that its very foundation is laid on a unique understanding of one particular prophecy in Daniel chapter 8. Not surprisingly, Adventisms position and interpretation has been the subject of severe criticism from outsiders and, more recently, from many who once were members and supporters of Adventism. I have had the need and the opportunity to study these prophecies of Daniel and to the best of my ability I have tried to examine the various views and generally speaking, I have not found any interpretation which as a whole fits the pattern of Daniel as well as does the Adventist interpretation. Sometimes a person cannot see the forest because he is looking too closely at the trees. No doubt we have heard the story of the six blind men who went to see the elephant.The first one happened to fall against the elephants foot and loudly declared, ‘its clear this elephant is very like a tree, the next one grabbed the elephants tusk and said, ‘this elephant is very like a spear, the third grabbed on to the ear and said, ‘this elephant is just like a fan, one fell against the elephants side and said, ‘the elephant is very like a wall, another held on to the tail and said, this elephant is very like a rope, while the last one grabbed the trunk and said, ‘its very like a snake. “And "); array_files[288]=new Array(0,1,"http://www.restorationministry.com/Open_Face/html/38-july-2004-nav.htm","2007-02-21","2K","Contents","",""," Contents Open Face No. 38 July 2004 In this issue: Chris Story The Parents Duty The Divinity of Christ The Work in Jamaica Why didnt she make it Plain? Update on the Work in India From Australia Translating the Truth in Africa Youth for God Publisher Information PDF version Newsletters Menu "); array_files[289]=new Array(0,1,"http://www.restorationministry.com/Open_Face/html/38-july-2004-frameset.html","2007-02-21","0K","Openface 38","",""," Openface 38 frameset rows=* cols=210,* framespacing=5 frameborder=yes border=5 bordercolor=#993300 frame src=38-july-2004-nav.htm name=navFrame scrolling=auto noresize id=navFrame frame src=38-july-2004-content.htm name=Contentframe id=Contentframe noframes "); array_files[290]=new Array(0,1,"http://www.restorationministry.com/Open_Face/html/37-may-2004-nav.htm","2007-02-21","1K","Contents","",""," Contents Open Face No. 37 May 2004 In this issue: Progress in Australia Free Tape Offer Campmeeting Report From Whence cometh the Gift of Salvation Publisher Information PDF version Newsletters Menu "); array_files[291]=new Array(0,1,"http://www.restorationministry.com/Open_Face/html/37-may-2004-frameset.html","2007-02-21","0K","Openface 37","",""," Openface 37 frameset rows=* cols=210,* framespacing=5 frameborder=yes border=5 bordercolor=#993300 frame src=37-may-2004-nav.htm name=navFrame scrolling=auto noresize id=navFrame frame src=37-may-2004-content.htm name=Contentframe id=Contentframe noframes "); array_files[292]=new Array(0,1,"http://www.restorationministry.com/Open_Face/html/36-march-2004-nav.htm","2007-02-21","1K","Contents","",""," Contents Open Face No. 36 March 2004 In this issue: The Truth of the Gospel The Fruit of the Gospel Campmeeting Notice Publisher Information PDF version Newsletters Menu "); array_files[293]=new Array(0,1,"http://www.restorationministry.com/Open_Face/html/36-march-2004-frameset.html","2007-02-21","0K","Openface 36","",""," Openface 36 frameset rows=* cols=210,* framespacing=5 frameborder=yes border=5 bordercolor=#993300 frame src=36-march-2004-nav.htm name=navFrame scrolling=auto noresize id=navFrame frame src=36-march-2004-content.htm name=Contentframe id=Contentframe noframes "); array_files[294]=new Array(0,1,"http://www.restorationministry.com/Open_Face/html/36-march-2004-content.htm","2007-02-21","59K","Open Face 36","",""," Open Face 36 Open Face No 36- March 2004 The Truth of The Gospel David Clayton The gospel is the central teaching of Christianity. In fact, we may rightly say that there is no truth contained in the Bible which does not find its center in the gospel. The word “gospel” signifies “good news,” and this focus on good news is what separates Christianity from every other religion. While other religions focus on how we can find a path to God, Christianity proclaims that God has made a path to us and dealt with all the factors which separated us from Him. Fundamentals of the gospel It is through His Son, Jesus Christ that God has brought mankind back to himself. By the incarnation, life, death and present ministry of Christ, God has removed all the barriers which stood in the way of humanity being fully reconciled to Himself. The work of Christ on our behalf may be briefly summarized in the following four points: a) Gods love for us was revealed in the gift of Christ.(John 3:16) b) Christ revealed God by the life which He lived. (John 1:18; 1 John 5:20) c) Christ passed through our experiences so that He could represent us. (Heb. 2:16, 17) d) Christ died to pay the penalty for our sins. (Rom. 6:8; 1 Cor. 15:3; Heb. 2:14) Let us take note of each of these points. It is most important that we recognize the significance of what Christ has done. This is the gospel. Without these four points the whole of our faith is a vain, meaningless exercise. It is a failure to recognize these points, to believe them and to come to grips with them which has led to the impotent, frustrating sham which today passes for Christianity in much of Christendom. Satans primary objective In order for Satan to prevent the overthrow of his kingdom and keep his subjects (humanity) in bondage, his first objective had to be to prevent Christ from fulfilling His mission. His most persistent and earnest efforts were put forth to prevent Jesus from fulfilling the four above-mentioned tasks. If he had been able to do this, mankind could never have been r "); array_files[295]=new Array(0,1,"http://www.restorationministry.com/Open_Face/html/35-jan-2004-nav.htm","2007-02-21","2K","Contents","",""," Contents Open Face No. 35 January 2004 In this issue: The Mark of Perfection Campmeeting Notice Isaiah 9:6 Atonement, Christology and the Trinity Others may, you Cannot The experience of Abiding Letters Convention Report How to Know God Publisher Information PDF version Newsletters Menu "); array_files[296]=new Array(0,1,"http://www.restorationministry.com/Open_Face/html/35-jan-2004-frameset.html","2007-02-21","0K","Openface 35","",""," Openface 35 frameset rows=* cols=210,* framespacing=5 frameborder=yes border=5 bordercolor=#993300 frame src=35-jan-2004-nav.htm name=navFrame scrolling=auto noresize id=navFrame frame src=35-jan-2004-content.htm name=Contentframe id=Contentframe noframes "); array_files[297]=new Array(0,1,"http://www.restorationministry.com/Open_Face/html/34-nov-2003-nav.htm","2007-02-21","1K","Contents","",""," Contents Open Face No. 34 November 2003 In this issue: Report on the Truth in Africa Publisher Information PDF version Newsletters Menu "); array_files[298]=new Array(0,1,"http://www.restorationministry.com/Open_Face/html/34-nov-2003-frameset.html","2007-02-21","0K","Openface 34","",""," Openface 34 frameset rows=* cols=210,* framespacing=5 frameborder=yes border=5 bordercolor=#993300 frame src=34-nov-2003-nav.htm name=navFrame scrolling=auto noresize id=navFrame frame src=34-nov-2003-content.htm name=Contentframe id=Contentframe noframes "); array_files[299]=new Array(0,1,"http://www.restorationministry.com/Open_Face/html/33-sept-2003-nav.htm","2007-02-21","1K","Contents","",""," Contents Open Face No. 33 September 2003 In this issue: Report on the work in Europe Publisher Information PDF version Newsletters Menu "); array_files[300]=new Array(0,1,"http://www.restorationministry.com/Open_Face/html/33-sept-2003-frameset.html","2007-02-21","0K","Openface 33","",""," Openface 33 frameset rows=* cols=210,* framespacing=5 frameborder=yes border=5 bordercolor=#993300 frame src=33-sept-2003-nav.htm name=navFrame scrolling=auto noresize id=navFrame frame src=33-sept-2003-content.htm name=Contentframe id=Contentframe noframes "); array_files[301]=new Array(0,1,"http://www.restorationministry.com/Open_Face/html/32-july-2003-nav.htm","2007-02-21","2K","Contents","",""," Contents Open Face No. 32 July 2003 In this issue: Ellen White and the Godhead (Pt.2) Examples of Changes Dare to be Different Editors Note A Believer in a Third Being Seeing the Light Penfriends Letters Publisher Information PDF version Newsletters Menu "); array_files[302]=new Array(0,1,"http://www.restorationministry.com/Open_Face/html/32-july-2003-frameset.html","2007-02-21","0K","Openface 32","",""," Openface 32 frameset rows=* cols=210,* framespacing=5 frameborder=yes border=5 bordercolor=#993300 frame src=32-july-2003-nav.htm name=navFrame scrolling=auto noresize id=navFrame frame src=32-july-2003-content.htm name=Contentframe id=Contentframe noframes "); array_files[303]=new Array(0,1,"http://www.restorationministry.com/Open_Face/html/31-may-2003-nav.htm","2007-02-21","1K","Contents","",""," Contents Open Face No. 31 May 2003 In this issue: Ellen White and the Godhead (Pt.1) Why God Waits Which Gospel do you Believe? Count the Number Evangelistic Meetings Campmeeting Report Publisher Information PDF version Newsletters Menu "); array_files[304]=new Array(0,1,"http://www.restorationministry.com/Open_Face/html/31-may-2003-frameset.html","2007-02-21","0K","Openface 31","",""," Openface 31 frameset rows=* cols=210,* framespacing=5 frameborder=yes border=5 bordercolor=#993300 frame src=31-may-2003-nav.htm name=navFrame scrolling=auto noresize id=navFrame frame src=31-may-2003-content.htm name=Contentframe id=Contentframe noframes "); array_files[305]=new Array(0,1,"http://www.restorationministry.com/Open_Face/html/31-may-2003-content.htm","2007-02-21","58K","Open Face 31","",""," Open Face 31 Open Face No 31- May 2003 Ellen White and The Godhead (Part 1) David Clayton The late Walter Martin, world-renowned cult-watcher and author once accused Ellen White of being an anti-Trinitarian, who changed her mind later in life. Most of us reading this article would probably disagree with Mr. Martin. After all, we believe that Ellen White was Gods messenger and God does not change His mind. However, Mr. Martins declaration is a reflection on the seeming contradictions, which appear whenever we begin to examine Ellen Whites statements on the Godhead. On the one hand, her anti-Trinitarian declarations are abundant and unmistakable during the first fifty years of her ministry, or up until around the turn of the century. On the other hand several statements have been credited to her during the last twenty years of her life which seem to be Trinitarian and supportive of the concept of a three part God. This seeming conflict between various statements made by Ellen White is one of the major reasons for the present controversy in Seventh-Day Adventism on the subject of the Godhead. Is there a difficulty? Yes there is. Any honest person will have to admit that there is a difficulty. However, it is possible that this difficulty can be resolved if we approach the issue in a reasonable and fair way. Just as with the study of the Bible, it is possible to arrive at a good understanding of the truth by carefully examining both sides of the issue with an open and honest mind, guided by the Holy Spirit. Our Approach A comprehensive discussion of the issues involved would require an entire book. We have only a few pages. Nevertheless we intend to make some points, which should help to demonstrate, the reason for these seeming discrepancies in Ellen White writings. Let me say that in attempting to demonstrate what Ellen White believed, I am not attempting to discover the truth about God. The Bible is very clear on that issue and does not leave us with any room for honest doubts. One who believes and will accept t "); array_files[306]=new Array(0,1,"http://www.restorationministry.com/Open_Face/html/30-feb-2003-nav.htm","2007-02-21","1K","Contents","",""," Contents Open Face No. 30 February 2003 In this issue: Metamorphosis A Theological Disaster At Home and Abroad Campmeeting Notice The Wooden Bowl Publisher Information PDF version Newsletters Menu "); array_files[307]=new Array(0,1,"http://www.restorationministry.com/Open_Face/html/30-feb-2003-frameset.html","2007-02-21","0K","Openface 30","",""," Openface 30 frameset rows=* cols=210,* framespacing=5 frameborder=yes border=5 bordercolor=#993300 frame src=30-feb-2003-nav.htm name=navFrame scrolling=auto noresize id=navFrame frame src=30-feb-2003-content.htm name=Contentframe id=Contentframe noframes "); array_files[308]=new Array(0,1,"http://www.restorationministry.com/Open_Face/html/30-feb-2003-content.htm","2007-02-21","64K","Open Face 30","",""," Open Face 30 Open Face No 30 - February 2003 Metamorphosis David Clayton One hundred years ago when Ellen White prophesied of the coming of a great apostasy within Seventh-day Adventism, she declared that one of the hallmarks of this apostasy would be that “books of a new order would be written.” And “a new system of intellectual philosophy would be introduced.” (SM1-204) “The fundamental principles which had sustained the work for the past fifty years (the first fifty years of Adventism) would be accounted as error.” This remarkable prophecy has been so strikingly fulfilled in the adopting of the Trinity by the SDA church that it can only be willful blindness which prevents Seventh-day Adventists from recognizing it. Over the past decade strenuous efforts have been made by the SDA church to promote the idea that God is a Trinity, and correspondingly to downgrade the founders and pioneers of Adventism, promoting the idea that they were relatively ignorant and naïve in matters of theology and consequently embraced and promoted false ideas about God. The latest fulfillment of Ellen Whites prophecy has been by way of the publication of three new books promoting the Trinity. Books of A New Order The first of these books is entitled, Understanding the Trinity, and was written by a retired Australian SDA minister named Max Hatton. Hatton was at first a Jehovahs Witness, but later, mostly because of the doctrine of the Trinity, he rejected the teachings of the Witnesses. Eventually he became a Seventh-day Adventist. His book was published in the year 2001. The second book is the Handbook of Seventh-day Adventist Theology. This book has been published as volume 12 of the Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary series and contains a significant section dealing with the issue of the Godhead. This book, of course, may be regarded as defining the official position of the SDA church and was published in the year 2001 by the Review and Herald Publishing Association. The third book is entitled, The Trinity, and is co-aut "); array_files[309]=new Array(0,1,"http://www.restorationministry.com/Open_Face/html/29-dec-2002-nav.htm","2007-02-21","1K","Contents","",""," Contents Open Face No. 29 December 2002 In this issue: The Reality of the Ministry of Christ A sampling of our mail Convention 2002 Report Publisher Information PDF version Newsletters Menu "); array_files[310]=new Array(0,1,"http://www.restorationministry.com/Open_Face/html/29-dec-2002-frameset.html","2007-02-21","0K","Openface 29","",""," Openface 29 frameset rows=* cols=210,* framespacing=5 frameborder=yes border=5 bordercolor=#993300 frame src=29-dec-2002-nav.htm name=navFrame scrolling=auto noresize id=navFrame frame src=29-dec-2002-content.htm name=Contentframe id=Contentframe noframes "); array_files[311]=new Array(0,1,"http://www.restorationministry.com/Open_Face/html/29-dec-2002-content.htm","2007-02-21","66K","Open Face 29","",""," Open Face 29 Open Face No 29- December 2002 The Reality of the Ministry of Christ David Clayton “And there was war in heaven: Michael and his angels fought against the dragon; and the dragon fought and his angels, and prevailed not; neither was their place found any more in heaven. And the great dragon was cast out, that old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan, which deceiveth the whole world: he was cast out into the earth, and his angels were cast out with him. And I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, Now is come salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of his Christ: for the accuser of our brethren is cast down, which accused them before our God day and night.” (Revelation 12:7-10) I have always found this to be one of the fascinating passages in the Bible, perhaps because it brings so many questions to mind. For example, what kind of war was there in heaven? What were the weapons which they used? Michael fought and His angels fought. The question is, could Satan resist the power of Michael, the Son of God for even one moment? What about God Himself? Why didnt He also fight? How could the devil dare to think that he could, by force of conflict gain control of heaven? God has the power to wipe out Satan in an instant if He so chooses, but the Bible says there was war. There was a battle and Satan was cast out. Immediately this tells us that there are issues involved in the conflict between God and Satan which are more than simply the issue of who is stronger. Let us notice the name that Satan was called; he was called, “the accuser of our brethren.” The Bible says he was accusing them before God “day and night,” and when he was finally cast out of heaven, there was great rejoicing there. What time are we considering here, when Satan was cast out? Is this talking about in the very beginning when Satan first sinned and lost his place in heaven? No, this was after Christ died and returned to heaven. We know, because it says, “the accuser of our brethren which accused them before our "); array_files[312]=new Array(0,1,"http://www.restorationministry.com/Open_Face/html/28-oct-2002-nav.htm","2007-02-21","1K","Contents","",""," Contents Open Face No. 28 October 2002 In this issue: The Certainty of Adventism The Investigative Judgment Ellen white and the comforter New book offer What did Arius Believe? Publisher Information PDF version Newsletters Menu "); array_files[313]=new Array(0,1,"http://www.restorationministry.com/Open_Face/html/28-oct-2002-content.htm","2007-02-21","61K","Open Face 28","",""," Open Face 28 Open Face No 28- October 2002 The Certainty of Adventism David Clayton Some time ago I received a letter from a man, which stated that of the 2000 Christian groups in the world, 1999 do not believe, what Adventists believe. Adventists believe that there is an end time atonement, they believe in an investigative judgment and believe that something special happened in 1844. The other 1999 Christian groups have not believed this for one hundred and fifty years, and this brother asked,“do you believe that you are the only people in the world who understand the truth?” It is easy for us to blind our eyes and to deceive ourselves. We grow up secure in our insularity. We believe, “well, my parents taught me the truth, I grew up in the truth and I am safe.” We often dont examine or think about what other people believe, and because of this we can easily deceive ourselves. Therefore it is critical that we often go to the Bible and carefully reexamine our foundations, because we dare not be wrong. In this matter we are dealing with the most vital issues of life. Nobody dies for something that he is not fully convinced about. We cannot afford to wait until a crisis breaks at some future time to discover that our foundation wasnt really founded on the word of God. If we think about what this brother wrote, we can see right away some elements of imbalance in his way of thinking. 1999 dont believe as we believe. Our group alone believes what we believe. Now suppose one of the 1999 accepts what we believe, what happens then? Do we now have two versus 1998? No what we have is still 1998 versus one. Why? Because the one that accepts, now becomes a part of the Advent movement. There is still only one Advent movement. If three join, there is still only one Advent movement versus the rest, so it will always be Adventism versus the rest. The brothers representation doesnt give a true picture. Many who used to be a part of the 1999 other groups, thought Adventism made sense, and what did they do? They joined the Advent "); array_files[314]=new Array(0,1,"http://www.restorationministry.com/Open_Face/html/28-oct-2002-frameset.html","2007-02-21","0K","Openface 28","",""," Openface 28 frameset rows=* cols=210,* framespacing=5 frameborder=yes border=5 bordercolor=#993300 frame src=28-oct-2002-nav.htm name=navFrame scrolling=auto noresize id=navFrame frame src=28-oct-2002-content.htm name=Contentframe id=Contentframe noframes "); array_files[315]=new Array(0,1,"http://www.restorationministry.com/Open_Face/html/27-august-2002-nav.htm","2007-02-21","1K","Contents","",""," Contents Open Face No. 27 August 2002 In this issue: European Journey God wanted us to Go Publisher Information PDF version Newsletters Menu "); array_files[316]=new Array(0,1,"http://www.restorationministry.com/Open_Face/html/27-august-2002-frameset.html","2007-02-21","0K","Openface 27","",""," Openface 27 frameset rows=* cols=210,* framespacing=5 frameborder=yes border=5 bordercolor=#993300 frame src=27-august-2002-nav.htm name=navFrame scrolling=auto noresize id=navFrame frame src=27-august-2002-content.htm name=Contentframe id=Contentframe noframes "); array_files[317]=new Array(0,1,"http://www.restorationministry.com/Open_Face/html/27-august-2002-content.htm","2007-02-21","60K","Open Face 27","",""," Open Face 27 Open Face No 27- August 2002 European Journey David Clayton During the month of July, 2002 from the 9th to the 29th, Brother Allen Stump and I (David Clayton) visited the countries of Poland, Germany and Norway, holding meetings and encouraging brethren there, especially those who have embraced the truth about God and His Son. This was a wonderful experience which emphasized for us the fact that God is at work in promoting the truth all over the world and is not dependent on any human agency though He gives us the privilege of working with Him. Our newsletter this month is entirely taken up with a report of this trip. We arrived in Poland at approximately 2.00 pm on Tuesday, July 10. I had very little idea of what to expect of the country and also of our hosts whom I had only met through email correspondence. The Krakow airport was very small by international standards, This perhaps contributed to the fact that we were ushered through customs very quickly with me, as a Jamaican having the longest delay as they had to punch in certain information such as my intended address into a computer. Allen as a privileged American had no such hassle. At the baggage claim carousel, we watched with a sinking feeling as all the baggage was gradually cleared from the line without any sign of ours. Finally we were left staring at the empty conveyor (It was a good thing that both Allen and I had taken a change of underwear and an extra shirt in our carry-on luggage because we did not receive our luggage until four days later!).We duly went to the appropriate authority to make our complaint all the time conscious of the fact that brother Jacek (pronounced Yatsik) Poreda would be waiting for us on the outside and hoping and praying that he would not assume that we had not arrived and leave. This was important because we had no idea of where brother Poreda lived or of how to get there on our own if we had even known. Impressions of Poland When we finally got out, we were grateful to find a smiling brother Poreda fait "); array_files[318]=new Array(0,1,"http://www.restorationministry.com/Open_Face/html/26-june-2002-nav.htm","2007-02-21","2K","Contents","",""," Contents Open Face No. 26 June 2002 In this issue: The Sabbath and the Trinity Self Deception What does Monogenes mean? Defense of Monogenes The Trinity and the Foundations of the Christian Faith An Interesting Exchange Phildadelphia Fellowship & New Radio Program More on Philadelphia vs. Laodicea Some Questions Publisher Information PDF version Newsletters Menu "); array_files[319]=new Array(0,1,"http://www.restorationministry.com/Open_Face/html/26-june-2002-frameset.html","2007-02-21","0K","Openface 26","",""," Openface 26 frameset rows=* cols=210,* framespacing=5 frameborder=yes border=5 bordercolor=#993300 frame src=26-june-2002-nav.htm name=navFrame scrolling=auto noresize id=navFrame frame src=26-june-2002-content.htm name=Contentframe id=Contentframe noframes "); array_files[320]=new Array(0,1,"http://www.restorationministry.com/Open_Face/html/25-april-2002-nav.htm","2007-02-21","2K","Contents","",""," Contents Open Face No. 25 April 2002 In this issue: Implications of the Trinity In our neck of the woods Campmeeting Report A Defender of Laodicea Response to Brother G Who sent Jesus and from Where? Liquid Blessing Voices of the People Publisher Information PDF version Newsletters Menu "); array_files[321]=new Array(0,1,"http://www.restorationministry.com/Open_Face/html/25-april-2002-frameset.html","2007-02-21","0K","Openface 25","",""," Openface 25 frameset rows=* cols=210,* framespacing=5 frameborder=yes border=5 bordercolor=#993300 frame src=25-april-2002-nav.htm name=navFrame scrolling=auto noresize id=navFrame frame src=25-april-2002-content.htm name=Contentframe id=Contentframe noframes "); array_files[322]=new Array(0,1,"http://www.restorationministry.com/Open_Face/html/24-feb-2002-nav.htm","2007-02-21","1K","Contents","",""," Contents Open Face No. 24 February 2002 In this issue: Philadelphia or Laodicea? Florida Campmeeting Home sweet Home Building a childs Character Jamaican Campmeeting Publisher Information PDF version Newsletters Menu "); array_files[323]=new Array(0,1,"http://www.restorationministry.com/Open_Face/html/24-feb-2002-frameset.html","2007-02-21","0K","Openface 24","",""," Openface 24 frameset rows=* cols=210,* framespacing=5 frameborder=yes border=5 bordercolor=#993300 frame src=24-feb-2002-nav.htm name=navFrame scrolling=auto noresize id=navFrame frame src=24-feb-2002-content.htm name=Contentframe id=Contentframe noframes "); array_files[324]=new Array(0,1,"http://www.restorationministry.com/Open_Face/html/23-december-2001-nav.htm","2007-02-21","1K","Contents","",""," Contents Open Face No. 23 December 2001 In this issue: Trip Down Under How to Maintain Unity A thought provoking poem Publisher Information PDF version Newsletters Menu "); array_files[325]=new Array(0,1,"http://www.restorationministry.com/Open_Face/html/23-december-2001-frameset.html","2007-02-21","0K","Openface 23","",""," Openface 23 frameset rows=* cols=210,* framespacing=5 frameborder=yes border=5 bordercolor=#993300 frame src=23-december-2001-nav.htm name=navFrame scrolling=auto noresize id=navFrame frame src=23-december-2001-content.htm name=Contentframe id=Contentframe noframes "); array_files[326]=new Array(0,1,"http://www.restorationministry.com/Open_Face/html/22-august-2001-nav.htm","2007-02-21","3K","Contents","",""," Contents Open Face No. 22 August 2001 In this issue: The Nature of Christ Revelation of The Father Thoughts on Gods Love Need A Visit? Missionary Journeys Say I am a Christian Campmeeting Report New Materials Your Spiritual Gift The Scars Publisher Information PDF version Newsletters Menu "); array_files[327]=new Array(0,1,"http://www.restorationministry.com/Open_Face/html/22-august-2001-frameset.html","2007-02-21","0K","Openface 22","",""," Openface 22 frameset rows=* cols=210,* framespacing=5 frameborder=yes border=5 bordercolor=#993300 frame src=22-august-2001-nav.htm name=navFrame scrolling=auto noresize id=navFrame frame src=22-august-2001-content.htm name=Contentframe id=Contentframe noframes "); array_files[328]=new Array(0,1,"http://www.restorationministry.com/Open_Face/html/21-june-2001-nav.htm","2007-02-21","2K","Contents","",""," Contents Open Face No. 21 June 2001 In this issue: The Fight of Faith Apology re Bishop Hill Letters Unwilling To Compromise Campmeeting Notice As I See It Publisher Information PDF version Newsletters Menu "); array_files[329]=new Array(0,1,"http://www.restorationministry.com/Open_Face/html/21-june-2001-frameset.html","2007-02-21","0K","Openface 21","",""," Openface 21 frameset rows=* cols=210,* framespacing=5 frameborder=yes border=5 bordercolor=#993300 frame src=21-june-2001-nav.htm name=navFrame scrolling=auto noresize id=navFrame frame src=21-june-2001-content.htm name=Contentframe id=Contentframe noframes "); array_files[330]=new Array(0,1,"http://www.restorationministry.com/Open_Face/html/19-feb-2001-nav.html","2007-02-21","2K","Nav","",""," Nav Open Face No. 19 February 2001 Home Newsletter Menu PDF Version In this issue: The Measure of Gods Love Who is in Apostasy The Character of Christ Why we must think rightly about God Campmeeting Notice The Busy Man Publisher Information "); array_files[331]=new Array(0,1,"http://www.restorationministry.com/Open_Face/html/19-feb-2001-frameset.html","2007-02-21","0K","Openface 19","",""," Openface 19 frameset rows=* cols=210,* framespacing=5 frameborder=yes border=5 bordercolor=#993300 frame src=19-feb-2001-nav.html name=navFrame scrolling=auto noresize id=navFrame frame src=19-feb-2001-content.html name=Contentframe scrolling=yes id=Contentframe noframes "); array_files[332]=new Array(0,1,"http://www.restorationministry.com/Open_Face/html/19-feb-2001-content.html","2007-02-21","64K","Open Face 19","",""," Open Face 19 Open Face No 19- February 2001 The Measure of Gods Love David Clayton This article is the first part of a transcript of a taped message. The second part will follow in the next issue of Open Face. Many sincere Christians often ask themselves the question, why is it that I am trying so hard to be a Christian, yet seem to be failing so often? Is there really, as the Old Testament prophet cried, no balm in Gilead? Is there really no way that I can live the life that I dream of, and ache for? The life that I think that God wants me to live? Is there really no way? Must it be that as long as we live in this flesh, we can never live a sinless life? Some years ago with this thought heavy in my mind I turned to St. John chapter fourteen and found two verses that made an impact on my mind. They were verses 21 and 23. In verse 23 Jesus said, If a man loves me, he will keep my words, and my father will love him and we will come unto him and make our abode with him. Notice, that Jesus does not say, if a man loves me, I am asking Him to keep my words. He is not giving a commandment. Here He is stating a fact. That same statement of fact is made in one of the songs we sing. I love thee, I love thee and that thou dost know, but how much I love thee, my actions will show. In other words, the degree of our love for Jesus is manifested by the degree of our obedience. Think of a man who cannot stop smoking, and drinking. He is addicted to these bad habits. All his life he tries to stop smoking but he cannot stop. Then he meets the girl of his dreams and finds that she cant stand the smell of cigarette smoke. Why does he now find the strength that he could never find all his life, to stop smoking immediately? He found the power of love. Jesus is saying, the degree of your obedience is the measure of the kind of love that you have for me. If you love me you will keep my words. God is saying to me, if you cant obey me, it is because you dont love me. A Special Privilege In verse 21 the Lord gives us a great promise. He "); array_files[333]=new Array(0,1,"http://www.restorationministry.com/Open_Face/html/18-dec-2000-nav.html","2007-02-21","2K","Nav","",""," Nav Open Face No. 18 December 2000 Home Newsletter Menu PDF Version In this issue: The Divinity of Christ Our Policy Brother Coombs Letter Our Response to The Letter The Love Of Christ More On Bishop Hill Newsnotes Sampling Of Mail Available Materials Publisher Information "); array_files[334]=new Array(0,1,"http://www.restorationministry.com/Open_Face/html/18-dec-2000-frameset.html","2007-02-21","0K","Openface 18","",""," Openface 18 frameset rows=* cols=210,* framespacing=5 frameborder=yes border=5 bordercolor=#993300 frame src=18-dec-2000-nav.html name=navFrame scrolling=auto noresize id=navFrame frame src=18-dec-2000-content.html name=Contentframe scrolling=yes id=Contentframe noframes "); array_files[335]=new Array(0,1,"http://www.restorationministry.com/Open_Face/html/18-dec-2000-content.html","2007-02-21","105K","Open Face 18","",""," Open Face 18 Open Face No 18- December 2000 The Divinity of Christ David Clayton In undertaking to write on this topic I am aware that I am treading on sacred ground. I am mindful of the fact that there is the need for caution and reverence in approaching this subject. I have not undertaken it without earnest prayer and much thought. Yet I am also aware that this article is necessary because there is much confusion, misunderstanding and assumption in this area, as a consequence of which multitudes are in darkness concerning the true identity and nature of Christ. Every word of inspiration is given to us for our learning. By these words God is seeking to help us to understand divine truths; both simple and profound. It is my conviction that in studying these words of God and in carefully comparing them with each other, we will be enabled to come to a proper understanding of the truth concerning Christs divinity, provided we are submissive to His Spirit and will drop all traditional and preconceived ideas. Some will emotionally and foolishly declare, “do not discuss this subject! It is too sacred for discussion!” Yet, this is the spirit of the Papacy, for it is the Papacy which first introduced the concept that things which God has revealed in His word were too high for the contemplation of human minds and consequently forbade the study of the Scriptures. Contradictions Some who claim to be earnest Christians have embraced the following ideas all of which they claim to be the truth. 1. God gave His Son to the world to show His love for men, but the one whom He gave was not truly His Son. 2. Jesus Christ is God and God cannot die, yet Jesus Christ died on Calvary. 3. A human sacrifice could not atone for the sins of the world, yet only the human part of Christ died. His divine nature did not - could not - die. 4. Death is an unconscious sleep, yet Jesus raised Himself from the dead, therefore must have been conscious in death. When a reasonable person, seeking for understanding points out these impossible contrad "); array_files[336]=new Array(0,1,"http://www.restorationministry.com/Open_Face/html/17-oct-2000-nav.html","2007-02-21","2K","Nav","",""," Nav Open Face No. 17 October 2000 Home Newsletter Menu PDF Version In this issue: Some Facts Concerning the Omega Loves Focus Tearing Down The Testimonies Jamaican Camp-Meeting Report News From The Toronto GC The Strange Case Of Bishop Hill Clarification Of Rapture Article Publisher Information "); array_files[337]=new Array(0,1,"http://www.restorationministry.com/Open_Face/html/17-oct-2000-frameset.html","2007-02-21","0K","Openface 17","",""," Openface 17 frameset rows=* cols=210,* framespacing=5 frameborder=yes border=5 bordercolor=#993300 frame src=17-oct-2000-nav.html name=navFrame scrolling=auto noresize id=navFrame frame src=17-oct-2000-content.html name=Contentframe scrolling=yes id=Contentframe noframes "); array_files[338]=new Array(0,1,"http://www.restorationministry.com/Open_Face/html/17-oct-2000-content.html","2007-02-21","52K","Open Face 17","",""," Open Face 17 Open Face No 17- October 2000 Some Facts Concerning the Omega Heresy Nearly one hundred years ago a book was written by the most outstanding Seventh-day Adventist physician of the time, Dr. John Harvey Kellogg. The title of this book was The Living Temple. When Ellen White read portions of the book she became very alarmed at what she found there and declared that the book contained most dangerous falsehood. Many were surprised at the forcefulness with which she condemned the book. She referred to its teachings as The Alpha of deadly heresies (Selected Messages bk.1, p.200). Even more startling, however, was her prediction that this Alpha heresy would be followed by a similar false doctrine of greater magnitude which would have a far more devastating effect upon Seventh-day Adventism than the Alpha did. She referred to this coming heresy as The Omega. Some have foolishly claimed that those of us who are trying to revive the pioneers concept of God are guilty of introducing the Omega. This accusation shows a lack of logical reasoning and a failure to carefully investigate. The following facts show clearly that the pioneer teaching on God could not be the Omega heresy. 1. When speaking of the Alpha crisis and the coming Omega, Ellen White several times stated that our safety would lie in refusing to be drawn away from the faith which God gave to the pioneers (statements follow in this article). Yet some say that the pioneers (including James White) were teaching the Omega heresy. 2. Ellen White said that the Omega would follow shortly after the Alpha. This statement would not make any sense if the Omega was the teaching of the pioneers for it would mean that the Omega would have been here before the Alpha! 3. Ellen White referred to the Alpha and Omega heresies as falsehoods of the most deadly kind. If the teaching of the pioneers was the Omega, then it means that for the first fifty years of its existence the SDA church to which Ellen White belonged, was teaching the most dangerous false doctrine, y "); array_files[339]=new Array(0,1,"http://www.restorationministry.com/Open_Face/html/16-july-2000-nav.html","2007-02-21","2K","Nav","",""," Nav Open Face No. 16 July 2000 Home Newsletter Menu PDF Version In this issue: Understanding The Issues Diagram Illustrating One God The paradox of Michael Report on Miami meetings The Secret Rapture To Those Who Deny the Investigative Judgment Publisher Information "); array_files[340]=new Array(0,1,"http://www.restorationministry.com/Open_Face/html/16-july-2000-frameset.html","2007-02-21","0K","Openface 16","",""," Openface 16 frameset rows=* cols=210,* framespacing=5 frameborder=yes border=5 bordercolor=#993300 frame src=16-july-2000-nav.html name=navFrame scrolling=auto noresize id=navFrame frame src=16-july-2000-content.html name=Contentframe scrolling=yes id=Contentframe noframes "); array_files[341]=new Array(0,1,"http://www.restorationministry.com/Open_Face/html/16-july-2000-content.html","2007-02-21","44K","Open Face 16","",""," Open Face 16 Open Face No 16- July 2000 Understanding the Issues Definitions of various concepts of the Trinity/godhead debate David Clayton HOW MANY GODS? There is Only one God. This is an incontrovertible biblical truth. Both the Old and the New Testaments declare this fact in unmistakable language (Deut. 6:4; Mark 12:29; 1 Cor. 8:6). Every single person who holds the Bible as supreme authority acknowledges this truth. The biblical insistence on monotheism requires that God be defined as a unit. As a He. There is only one of Him. HOW DOES ONE GOD BECOME THREE PERSONS? The Bible also clearly teaches the divine nature of Jesus and the Holy Spirit as well as the Father (John 1:1; 1 Cor.3:16). how can this be reconciled with the fact that there is only ONE God? At the council of Nicea in 325 AD they wrestled and wrangled over this question. Finally the council reached a decision and formulated the doctrine of the Trinity which has remained with us (with slight modifications) ever since. THE HISTORICAL (CATHOLIC) CONCEPT OF THE TRINITY What the council decided is that the word God really refers to a single substance or Being. This substance manifests Himself (itself) as three Persons, Father, Son and Holy Ghost, who are not three Gods, but one God in three modes. This term being does not mean that He is one Person, but rather that He is a single substance called God, and that this substance expresses Himself (itself?) in three ways, as three manifestations or persons, the Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Therefore Jesus and the Holy Spirit are said to be consubstantial (of the same substance) with the Father. The observant person will notice that this is a radical departure from the Scriptural concept of God who is always regarded in the Bible as a personal, individual Being whom we may regard as Father and with whom we may enjoy personal fellowship. The Nicean concept of God turns Him into a faceless impersonal substance. It should be evident that if God is the Being with three modes, the Father, Son and Holy Spirit "); array_files[342]=new Array(0,1,"http://www.restorationministry.com/Open_Face/html/15-may-2000-nav.html","2007-02-21","2K","Nav","",""," Nav Open Face No. 15 May 2000 Home Newsletter Menu PDF Version In this issue: Did God Have a Son to Give? Scripture Alone? Does God Speak by Jesus Only Sweet and Bitter Waters? Biblical Interpretation Campmeeting Publisher Information "); array_files[343]=new Array(0,1,"http://www.restorationministry.com/Open_Face/html/15-may-2000-frameset.html","2007-02-21","0K","Openface 15","",""," Openface 15 frameset rows=* cols=210,* framespacing=5 frameborder=yes border=5 bordercolor=#993300 frame src=15-may-2000-nav.html name=navFrame scrolling=auto noresize id=navFrame frame src=15-may-2000-content.html name=Contentframe scrolling=yes id=Contentframe noframes "); array_files[344]=new Array(0,1,"http://www.restorationministry.com/Open_Face/html/15-may-2000-content.html","2007-02-21","69K","Open Face 15","",""," Open Face 15 Open Face No 15- May 2000 Did God Have a Son to Give? David Clayton One of the most popular avenues taken by those who deny that Jesus is the true literal son of God, is to claim that Jesus was not the Son of God until he was conceived by the Holy Spirit in the womb of Mary, or until He was resurrected after His crucifixion (Rom. 1:4). Does this claim bear the test of close investigation? Is this conclusion a reasonable one in light of all the facts? Jesus, as well as the entire New Testament reveals that Gods love was supremely manifested when He gave His only begotten Son for men. (John 3: 16; 1 John 4: 10). Let us pause to think about this. God wants men to appreciate how much He loves them. His whole purpose from the beginning of the world has been to reveal the degree of His love for mankind. When He finally unveiled the fullness of His love in all its splendor for the universe to see, it was in the act of sending someone to earth to die for men. In this action of sending this person, God revealed His love in a way that it had never been seen before and would never again be equaled in all eternity. TWO VITAL QUESTIONS There are two vital questions which we need to ask ourselves. the first one is, who was this person that God sent? This question is critical because if the sending of this person is the key factor in the revelation of Gods love, then it must be clear that the key question is, What was the relationship between this person and God? Let me illustrate my point. If John 3:16 had read, God so loved the world that He gave an angel whom He created…. or, God so loved the world that He gave His friend…. Would the action really have impressed us with the fact that Gods love for us is very great? Men would have understood if God had claimed to have given an angel. We would have comprehended it if God had claimed to have given His friend. But would this really have revealed Gods love for man? The plain fact is, Gods consistent testimony is that He gave His SON. In the very words of that Son, "); array_files[345]=new Array(0,1,"http://www.restorationministry.com/Open_Face/html/14-apr-2000-Nav.html","2007-02-21","2K","Nav","",""," Nav Open Face No. 14 April 2000 Home Newsletter Menu PDF Version In this issue: Judgment Without a Trial? Gods Anointed in Exile A Sampling Of Our Mail New Developments Keep at your work Publisher Information "); array_files[346]=new Array(0,1,"http://www.restorationministry.com/Open_Face/html/14-apr-2000-frameset.html","2007-02-21","0K","Openface 14","",""," Openface 14 frameset rows=* cols=210,* framespacing=5 frameborder=yes border=5 bordercolor=#993300 frame src=14-apr-2000-Nav.html name=navFrame scrolling=auto noresize id=navFrame frame src=14-apr-2000-content.html name=Contentframe scrolling=yes id=Contentframe noframes "); array_files[347]=new Array(0,1,"http://www.restorationministry.com/Open_Face/html/14-apr-2000-content.html","2007-02-21","74K","Open Face 14","",""," Open Face 14 Open Face No 14- April 2000 Judgment Without a Trial? David Clayton The most misunderstood teaching of the Advent faith is the doctrine of the investigative Judgement. This misunderstanding is present not only among non-Adventists, but is also evident among hundreds of thousands within Adventist circles including many of those who are teachers and pastors. This fact was forcibly impressed on my mind recently as I examined the arguments of several persons who have concluded that the Investigative Judgement is a false, unscriptural and anti-gospel teaching. All Christians believe basically in two aspects of final judgement. They believe in: (a) A Sentencing or a Verdict: That God will one day pass sentence upon every human who has ever lived. (b) An execution: That the sentence will be carried out with the wicked being destroyed and the righteous inheriting eternal life. The Investigative Judgement, however, seeks to introduce a third element into the concept of this final judgement. It is (c) An Investigation: Before sentence is either passed or executed, God will first of all examine the life of each person in order to determine whether such a person should be sentenced to death or to life. To simplify the issue: Most Christians will agree that God will sentence all men to either life or death. They will also agree that God will destroy the wicked and reward the righteous with eternal life. They object, however, to the idea that God will conduct a public investigation before passing His sentences. The early advent believers insisted that the concept of the investigative judgement is clearly taught by the Bible in spite of the numerous objections to it. Were they right? Let us concede from the beginning that they chose a term to describe this doctrine which is not found in the Bible. The Bible nowhere uses the term Investigative Judgement and it is usually best if we describe our beliefs using the terminology of the Bible. The real question is, however, is the concept taught in the Bible? Let us be "); array_files[348]=new Array(0,1,"http://www.restorationministry.com/Open_Face/html/13-feb-2000-nav.html","2007-02-21","1K","Contents","",""," Contents Open Face No. 13 February 2000 Home Newsletter Menu PDF Version In this issue: When was the day of Atonement? The Bible & Bible Only? A Monkey for a Black Dog The Stronghold Publisher Information "); array_files[349]=new Array(0,1,"http://www.restorationministry.com/Open_Face/html/13-feb-2000-content.html","2007-02-21","72K","Open Face 11","",""," Open Face 11 Open Face No 13- February 2000 When Was The Day of Atonement? David Clayton The Bible clearly reveals that God has a timetable on which He operates. His timetable is clearly and unquestionably outlined in the calendar of the Hebrew economy. This calendar reveals very clearly that God has several outstanding points or events in His plan for redeeming the human race. These events are all critical to the plan of salvation and all take place at specific appointed moments when the fullness of the time arrives. (Gal 4:4) Take for example the feasts of Passover and Pentecost. If, as some claim, every work of God on behalf of man was finished at Calvary, why was not the holy spirit given at Calvary? Why did the coming of the holy spirit need to wait until nearly two months later? Can we suggest a reason? The inescapable facts are: a. The work of Christ was not finished at Calvary. It continued in heaven where His ministry is just as essential for the plan of salvation as was His death on the cross. This is the message of the book of Hebrews. b. Gods work for mankind has definite phases which take place at definite appointed times. Nothing will take place before the fullness of the time has come. Calvary was not the end, but, being the antitype of the Passover ceremony, it was, as the Passover was, the beginning of the sacred year. The beginning of Gods great events in the history of the salvation of mankind. As the types so clearly show, several critical events were scheduled to follow Calvary (the Passover) before the plan of salvation was completed. These events are clearly outlined in the book of Leviticus in chapter 23. There were six feasts which God Himself instituted in Israel and which He commanded the Jews to observe at their appointed time every year. Some of these feasts such as the Passover and the Feast of Tabernacles as well as Pentecost clearly were commemorative of some significant event in Israels history. The Passover was observed as a reminder of the time when the angel of death passing "); array_files[350]=new Array(0,1,"http://www.restorationministry.com/Open_Face/html/13-feb-2000-frameset.html","2007-02-21","0K","Openface 13","",""," Openface 13 frameset rows=* cols=210,* framespacing=5 frameborder=yes border=5 bordercolor=#993300 frame src=13-feb-2000-nav.html name=navFrame scrolling=auto noresize id=navFrame frame src=13-feb-2000-content.html name=Contentframe scrolling=yes id=Contentframe noframes "); array_files[351]=new Array(0,1,"http://www.restorationministry.com/Open_Face/html/12-dec99-nav.html","2007-02-21","2K","Contents","",""," Contents Open Face No. 12 December 1999 Home Newsletter Menu PDF Version In this issue: Roots of The Trinity Is The Gospel Trinity Based? Trinitarian Confusion Frontline Publisher Information "); array_files[352]=new Array(0,1,"http://www.restorationministry.com/Open_Face/html/12-dec99-frameset.html","2007-02-21","0K","Openface 12","",""," Openface 12 frameset rows=* cols=210,* framespacing=5 frameborder=yes border=5 bordercolor=#993300 frame src=12-dec99-nav.html name=navFrame scrolling=auto noresize id=navFrame frame src=12-dec99-content.html name=Contentframe scrolling=yes id=Contentframe noframes "); array_files[353]=new Array(0,1,"http://www.restorationministry.com/Open_Face/html/12-dec99-content.html","2007-02-21","52K","Open Face 11","",""," Open Face 11 Open Face No 12- December 1999 Roots of the Trinity David Clayton The doctrine of the Trinity has been, from the moment it was first introduced into the Christian faith, a subject of heated debate and fierce controversy. Today many centuries later the situation is no different. Still there is argument and division concerning this doctrine which its advocates have declared to be a great mystery. Sometime, during the first four hundred years after the death of Christ, this doctrine crept into the teachings of popular Christianity. While it was officially embraced and defined at the Council of Nicea (AD 325), there seems to be evidence to suggest that even before this time it had already insinuated itself into the thinking of some Christians. However, what is absolutely certain is that this doctrine was not introduced into the Christian Church until more than a century after the death of the last of the apostles. The Encarta Encyclopedia describes its introduction into Christianity in the following way: Trinity (theology), in Christian theology, doctrine that God exists as three persons—Father, Son, and Holy Spirit—who are united in one substance or being. The doctrine is not taught explicitly in the New Testament, where the word God almost invariably refers to the Father.... The term trinitas was first used in the 2nd century, by the Latin theologian Tertullian, but the concept was developed in the course of the debates on the nature of Christ. In the 4th century, the doctrine was finally formulated… The Encyclopedia Britannica states that The doctrine developed gradually over several centuries and through many controversies. (Article – Trinity). The doctrine, according to these articles, was developed during the first four centuries AD. Now think carefully. Protestants believe in the Scripture. Catholics believe in Tradition plus Scripture. Protestantism says, all necessary truth is taught in the Scriptures. Catholicism says, no, the Church continued to discover and proclaim more truth over the cen "); array_files[354]=new Array(0,1,"http://www.restorationministry.com/Open_Face/html/11-sept99-nav.html","2007-02-21","2K","Contents","",""," Contents Open Face No. 11 September 1999 Home Newsletter Menu PDF Version In this issue: Who is the Holy Spirit To be Orthodox Campmeeting Frontline Publisher Information "); array_files[355]=new Array(0,1,"http://www.restorationministry.com/Open_Face/html/11-sept99-frameset.html","2007-02-21","0K","Openface 52","",""," Openface 52 frameset rows=* cols=210,* framespacing=5 frameborder=yes border=5 bordercolor=#993300 frame src=11-sept99-nav.html name=navFrame scrolling=auto noresize id=navFrame frame src=11-sept99-content.html name=Contentframe scrolling=yes id=Contentframe noframes "); array_files[356]=new Array(0,1,"http://www.restorationministry.com/Open_Face/html/11-sept99-content.html","2007-02-21","41K","Open Face 11","",""," Open Face 11 Open Face No 11 - September 1999 Who is the Holy Spirit David Clayton The path of truth and error lies close together, but they do not overlap. In this article it may seem that I have stepped close to the line, but I have been careful to go no further than the Bible and the Testimonies have gone. Please read carefully and you will see that God has truly given us a privilege which is unspeakably great. WHO IS THE HOLY SPIRIT? I should like to answer this question directly by describing in my own words my concept of the Holy Spirit, based on the Bible and the Spirit of Prophecy writings. I realize that this is not the recommended way of proving a doctrine. However, I am not seeking at first to prove what I believe; only to make sure that my ideas are properly understood. This is why I am using this approach. Afterwards I will give the inspired basis for my conclusions. I believe that God is Omnipotent. This means that He has all power. Without limitations. There is nothing that He cannot do. There is nothing too hard for Him to accomplish. I believe that God is Omnipresent. This means that He is at this moment, and at all moments, literally and personally present everywhere in the universe. I believe this is true without qualification. He Himself, personally is here with me in this room as I write, while at the same moment He is trillions of light years away in space, in His throne room in heaven. How can God be here with me, while He is at the same time in heaven? How can He be said to, fill heaven and earth? (Jer. 23:24). Does it mean that His head is in heaven while His feet are on earth? Obviously not. What we need to understand is that the form of the Person which sits on the throne in heaven is not all there is of God. This is just the form in which God reveals Himself to angels and to men. The wise man Solomon stated: